Understanding the Effects of Stress on Your Body

What is stress?

• A feeling we all experience when we are challenged or overwhelmed

• A physical response that travels throughout your entire body

• A hardwired emotion that changes your brain

• A hormone released by the adrenal gland

What are the short-term effects of stress?

• Advantageous changes in the brain and body

• Damage to organs and cells throughout the body

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure

• Changes in gut bacteria composition

How does adrenaline affect the body?

• Causes the heart to beat faster and raises blood pressure

• Triggers the process of atherosclerosis

• Leads to irritable bowel syndrome

• Increases appetite and cravings for comfort foods

What is the role of cortisol in stress?

• Causes the endothelium to not function normally

• Increases gut sensitivity to acid

• Increases the risk of developing chronic diseases

• Increases the body's energy stores

How does chronic stress affect the waistline?

• Causes hair loss and acne

• Leads to sexual dysfunction and headaches

• Increases visceral or deep belly fat

• Results in muscle tension and difficulty concentrating

What are the effects of stress on the immune system?

• Helps prepare to fight invaders and heal after injury

• Dampens function of immune cells

• Increases susceptibility to infections

• Slows the rate of healing

What happens to telomeres with chronic stress?

• They become longer and healthier

• They cap chromosomes to allow DNA copying

• They shorten with each cell division

• They prevent damage to the cell's genetic code

What are some other effects of chronic stress?

• Increased energy and improved concentration

• Decreased fatigue and irritability

• Improved digestion and overall health

• Acne, hair loss, and difficulty concentrating

How should you respond to stressful situations?

• View them as insurmountable threats

• Ignore them and hope they go away

• View them as challenges you can control and master

• Avoid them at all costs