2 minutes and seconds19 of reading

The psyche affects our health. Our moods are influenced by hormones in the body. Psychological stress releases toxins into the body and adversely affects our physical and mental health. How exactly does stress manifest itself in our body?

Cardiovascular system

Stress is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease and in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction. Persons who are exposed to high stress are less likely to survive cardiac events. An international study involving 52 countries examined the relationship of psychosocial factors to the risk of myocardial infarction.

Psychosocial stress was assessed with four simple questions about stress at work, at home, financial stress, and stress from major life events. They asked about the year before the heart attack. People with myocardial infarction reported a higher prevalence of all four stress factors.

Immune system

Stress-induced changes in the immune system are widely known. Persons with high levels of stress are more likely to become infected. Acute stressors (lasting minutes) are associated with potentially adaptive down-regulation of some parameters of natural immunity and reduction of some functions of specific immunity. Common stressors (e.g., tests) tend to suppress cellular immunity while preserving humoral immunity. This means that part of immunity is mediated by antibodies. Chronic stressors are associated with suppression of both cellular and humoral immunity.

CNS

Also, the central nervous system is disturbed during undue stress. Stress triggers mental symptoms, including cognitive impairment, dementia and excessive fatigue. Stress has a direct impact on health, e.g. in the case of dysregulation of the hormonal axes. Stress has a profound effect on brain structure and function, although the underlying mechanisms are still poorly understood. Recent studies suggest that the neuronal cell adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily - NCAM and L1 - are important mediators of the effects of stress on the brain.

Overweight

Stress is associated with a decline in physical function over time. It can cause obesity, which contributes to cardiovascular disease. Psychosocial stress and sleep deprivation are a common part of modern society. Stress-induced hypercortisolaemia (long-term excess of the hormone cortisol) in an environment of unrestricted food intake promotes obesity. Do you want to avoid being overweight? You can also reduce stress with the NoPainOffice program. Watch short videos with simple exercises that you can do even during a Zoom call at work.

Social behaviour

Another factor of stress is its negative impact on a person's lifestyle. Reduced work capacity, limited physical activity and more frequent sitting are typical stress behaviors. Is yours one of them? Stress fatigue is widespread. It causes a serious disruption in quality of life.

Recovery after exercise

In chronic stress, delays in post-exercise recovery and blunted muscular and neural adaptations are often observed. In the first hour after strenuous resistance exercise, stress and the perception of stressful situations reduce the ability to recover muscle function, but therefore not psychological responses.

Healthcare costs

People at high risk of general health, stress and its consequences (especially obesity) have health care costs several times higher than healthy individuals with active lifestyles. Money should not be the biggest motivator for health and prevention, but it is certainly among the main ones. Try incorporating some exercise or at least basic anti-stress techniques into your life. Your health will thank you.