While the causes of stress may vary, symptoms of stress such as increased heart rate, burning in the stomach, high blood pressure, back pain, trouble sleeping, and even skin problems all begin with a sudden physical reaction that does not bypasses any cell of our body.
Every day, hundreds of small events stimulate ournervous systemto function. The brain - the management center of all life processes - receives millions of data every second. In the first place, it processes those that carry information about a potential threat and require an immediate defense response. It can be a fight or a flight. Each of them requires full mobilization of the whole organism.
Stress - what is happening to your body?
The alarm reaches the pituitary gland, which begins to release substances into the blood that stimulate the adrenal glands to increase the production of adrenaline and norepinephrine.
These are the alarm hormones, also known asstress hormones , that force our internal organs to work at full capacity. The stomach secretes more acids to digest food faster, which is then broken down by the pancreas and liver into compounds that nourish the tissues.
The heart begins to pump blood faster so that more oxygen and energy substances - glucose and fatty acids - reach the cells. If such a state of increased readiness lasts a long time or returns permanently, the body does not have time to regenerate and functions worse and worse.
Effects of living under stress
That is whyliving under stress , that is, in constant readiness to fight or flee, weakens immunity and is the cause of most diseases. It cannot be eliminated, but its negative effects can be minimized.
Such an antidote is serotonin produced by the brain - one of the neurotransmitters that determines good mental condition and resistance to stress.
It turns out that we have an influence on its secretion. Its amount increases during physical exertion and sunny weather. Also important is a diet rich in tryptophan - an amino acid necessary for the production of serotonin.
Its good sources are, among others bananas, egg yolks, turkey meat, porcini mushrooms, dates, nuts, mangoes.
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