Stress

Part Two a more in depth look

When considering the body's response to stress we have to look
at the main player the Autonomic Nervous System this is an
involuntary control system i.e. we cannot consciously influence it ,
which is divided into two parts the Sympathetic Nervous
System ( SNS ) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System
( PNS ) . Every organ in the body has a nerve supply from each
with one division generating the opposite effect to the other ;
SNS
Speeds up heart rate
Decreases peristalsis,stops
defecation & urination
Decreases digestive juices
Increases air intake
Increases adrenalin

PNS
Slows down heart rate
Increases peristalsis,defecation
& urination
Increases digestive juices
Decreases air intake
No control

We could describe the SNS as the action side and the PNS as
the rest and regeneration side .
Throughout daily life we switch from a normal stress state to an
increased state and back again : this to-ing and fro-ing is
completely normal . We get out of bed with the aid of the correct
chemical messengers coursing through our bodies to enable us to
function properly when awake . As the days dramas come to an
end the stress hormones are winding down and the repair
hormones are rising which leads us to feel sleepy under the
influence of these hormones the body repairs itself during sleep ,
from the trials of the day and then off we go the next morning !
However , the modern lifestyle rarely lets us act in this natural

manner this cycle is interrupted by shift work , environmental

stress , excessive or no exercise , money and relationship worries ,
poor food choices , negative thought patterns etc., etc., all of which
combine to keep us in an elevated stress response .

Effects of Stress on the Body

Effects on Different Bodily Systems

Muscular System
Stress increases muscular tension which causes the muscle
fibres to squeeze excessively on the blood capillaries that are trying
to bring in oxygen and nutrients as a result blood flow is reduced .
This causes a build of lactic acid , urea and other waste products
over time this leads to fibrositis ( stiffness and pain )

Skeletal System
The increased muscle tension ( especially in the neck and
shoulders ) results in poor posture ( kyphosis ) which causes
excessive wearing on the bones of the cervical and thoracic spine .

Stiffness and osteoarthritis ( cartilage breakdown ) can result and

cause severe problems in the vertebrae

Cardiovascular System
Cholesterol is a fatty substance created in the liver to provide the
body with energy and to repair damaged cells . It is a vital part of
the bodies make-up but when adrenalin and cortisol are released in
stressful situations , the liver produces more cholesterol in
response in individuals who are permanently stressed this
excess , unused cholesterol (along with cholesterol from a bad diet)
begins to line the arterial walls . This lessens the diameter of the
artery forcing the heart to pump harder to force the blood through a
narrower tube causing a higher blood pressure .
If this situation happens to be in the tiny arteries that feed the
heart muscle itself (coronary arteries) it can eventually cut-off the
blood supply to one part of the heart and it can cramp in the same
way that calf muscles do the result can be a heart attack . A
similar situation near the brain can cause a stroke

Immune System
The gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts are coated with a
mucous type substance that protects us from invading organisms
it is the first line of defence against infection . The over production
of cortisol can cause this system to malfunction and leave us prone
to disease

Nervous System
Negative feelings such as fear and anxiety have a huge effect
here this system is directly linked with the endocrine system
whose glands are often overstimulated (see below) .
The nervous system is responsible for the basic instincts of the
body such as hunger and sex drive when stressed , overeating or
loss of appetite can occur , as can diminished libido and
impotence .
It is also responsible for balance and co-ordination , memory and
reasoning . Stressed people often suffer ( to varying degree )
memory loss and an inability to make decisions and often poor
concentration accompanied with jerky movements .
The overall effect of these feelings is that the SNS (action)

comes to the fore at the expense of the PNS (rest)

Endocrine System
This system controls most of the bodily functions and human
behaviour by sending out chemical messengers (hormones) to
maintain internal balance . Overproduction of hormones leads to a
wide variety of problems , some of which have already been
mentioned but there are many more . The end result is that when
this system is not functioning properly you cannot cope with
stress effectively this results in a vicious cycle where this system
creates more stress and these higher levels weaken the system
even further

Digestive System
Problems here often begin with heartburn and indigestion due to
an overproduction of stomach acids which can eventually lead to
ulcers where the acids start to attack the lining of the stomach
( the stomach is digesting itself ! ) .
It was mentioned earlier that digestion slows when under stress
so we are unable to absorb the nutrients that are doubly needed to
offset the tissue destruction caused by the stress response ,
because the growth and repair system has been compromised . We
have also seen that the SNS slows defecation so the stressed body
begins to fill with partially digested , rotting food no need to say
any more on this topic !

If you are suffering from stress ; think that you

Talk to someone ( this , in itself , can bring relief )
Get information
If needed , get professional help
But remember to truly begin to control your stress ;

You cannot expect the situation

to change if you do not change
something in your life

Val O'Halloran
Massage Therapist