Stress and Health: Biological and psychological interactions

Stress is typically the body's reaction to specific circumstances that have an effect on a person's physical or emotional health. (Schoenfeld & Gould, 2012). The body's reaction to an imminent threat is acute stress. Acute tension typically lasts for a brief period of time and manifests itself suddenly and intensely. The event only lasts for a brief period of time as the body relaxes from the effects of the changes brought on by the stress reaction as the pressure gradually decreases. (Schoenfeld & Gould, 2012). For instance, the "fight-or-flight" reaction is triggered by acute stress, which can happen when you are on the verge of an accident or are being pursued by a wild animal. Chronic stress is a state of prolonged nervous arousal in which the person feels like have lost or have little control over the miserable situation (Schoenfeld & Gould, 2012). Chronic stress is associated with health problems such as peptic ulcer disease, cardiovascular diseases, etc. (Lovallo, 2015). Chronic stress can result from traumatic life events such as loss of a loved one, painful childhood experiences that were not resolved, dysfunctional families, etc.

The amygdala is the part of the brain that is responsible for stress detection and interpretation of the stimulus (Publications, 2017). It is in charge of processing of perceived stimuli into emotions (Publications, 2017). It further leads to the autonomic "fight-or-flight" response. The distress signal is then relayed to a region of the forebrain which is known as the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus sends messages to the adrenal gland and the anterior pituitary to produce hormones which are responsible for the effects of the sympathetic nervous system herein (Publications, 2017). Signals are relayed in the form of nerve impulses through autonomic nerves

A hormone is a chemical substance that is produced in an organism's body and aids in the regulation of metabolic processes (Schoenfeld & Gould, 2012). They act as chemical messengers within the body. They are produced from different glands and organs from where they are secreted into the body fluids and transported to their sites of action in the body. Epinephrine, norepinephrine, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), cortisol and norepinephrine are the hormones that are involved in the stress response (Herman, McKlveen, Solomon, Carvalho-Netto, & Myers, 2012). Epinephrine and norepinephrine are produced by the adrenal medulla. ACTH is produced by the anterior pituitary, and it further stimulates the adrenal gland to produce cortisol. Epinephrine is usually produced in acute stress. It mediates the "fight-or-flight" response. ACTH is produced when the body perceives stimuli to be continually threatening. Cortisol is produced when the adrenal glands are stimulated by ACTH. HPA is the “hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal” axis. It is a collection of body structures which function through a system of feedback interactions (Herman et al., 2012). The hypothalamus releases “corticotropin-releasing factor” which stimulates the anterior pituitary gland to release ACTH. After binding to receptors on the adrenal cortex, ACTH stimulates the release of cortisol. Cortisol sustains the stress response through actions such as increased blood sugar levels.

Techniques that can be used to counter stress include physical exercises, seeking out social support and measures that are geared towards eliciting a relaxation response (Seaward, 2013). Self-relaxation techniques such as self-hypnosis, yoga, etc. have been shown to be useful in stress reduction (Seaward, 2013). Physical exercise has been demonstrated to reduce the intensity of emotions besides calming your mind which is helpful in managing stress. Besides, Seaward (2013) reports that exercises improve the quality of sleep which is one causative factor for stress.

References

Herman, J. P., McKlveen, J. M., Solomon, M. B., Carvalho-Netto, E., & Myers, B. (2012). Neural regulation of the stress response: glucocorticoid feedback mechanisms. Brazilian journal of medical and biological research, 45(4), 292-298.

Lovallo, W. R. (2015). Stress and Health: Biological and psychological interactions. Sage Publications.

Publications, H. (2017). Understanding the stress response - Harvard Health. Harvard Health. Retrieved 16 August 2017, from https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response

Schoenfeld, T. J., & Gould, E. (2012). Stress, stress hormones, and adult neurogenesis. Experimental neurology, 233(1), 12-21.

Seaward, B. L. (2013). Managing stress. Jones & Bartlett Publishers.