How does stress affect your health?

Stress influences your physical and mental health. It can impact every system in the body, including the brain. Stress activates the fight or flight response, causing the release of cortisol and adrenaline. While this response is essential for dealing with immediate threats, long-term (chronic stress) can be detrimental to our physical and mental health.

Prolonged stress can contribute to elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate, and a higher risk of heart disease. Chronic stress may also lead to inflammation in the body, contributing to conditions like atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, autoimmune digestive disorders and even cancers.

Stress hormones can suppress the immune response, making individuals more susceptible to infections and illnesses. It is a significant contributor to conditions such as anxiety and depression, too. The constant activation of the stress response can also impact neurotransmitters in the brain, affecting mood regulation.

Finding ways to manage and even eliminate ongoing stress in your life can be an important part of building better emotional and physical health.