HOW STRESS AFFECTS YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM

HOW STRESS LEVELS AFFECT THE NERVOUS SYSTEM

When you think about stress and the mind, you probably think about overwhelming feelings or emotion instability. But what about how stress affects our bodies, and more specifically, how it affects the nervous system?

Stress has the ability to influence all systems of the body, including respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, and more. The nervous system is particularly responsive to stress as it is the system that works to regulate each of the unconscious bodily functions such as heart rate, urination, and respiratory rate.

The nervous system is the control center responsible for bodily functions. It’s made up of two systems: the sympathetic nervous system and the parasympathetic nervous system.

You’ve probably heard of the fight or flight response which is a reaction that’s controlled by the sympathetic nervous system. In today’s world, we often see fight or flight as a response to the stressful situations that occur in our lives.

Like the nervous systems, there are two kinds of stress: acute stress and chronic stress. Acute stress is represented by an immediate reaction to a situation we perceive as threatening. Once this perceived threat is gone, our stress hormones return to their normal levels and no long-term effects take place.

Chronic stress on the other hand is an ongoing stress that doesn’t necessarily happen because of a trigger. It can be damaging to our health because it brings on a stress hormone called cortisol which can stick around in your body all day.

The release of cortisol into your system due to stress can also have effects on the brain. As well as how it works with the rest of your body. The stress response tells the brains to send a signal to the adrenal glands they should release adrenaline. This release can cause high blood pressure, increased blood sugar, or increased heart rate.

Cortisol damages the brain as well, as it can kill cells in the hippocampus and age the brain.

Ways to Deal with Stress

· GET OUTSIDE

· BE ACTIVE

· GET PLENTY OF SLEEP

· STAY CONSISTENT WITH YOUR CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS TO KEEP YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM SUBLUXATION FREE FOR OPTIMAL PERFORMANCE