top of page
Search

Stress - how does it impact our health?

Acute or short-term stress can be beneficial – if we have a close call while driving in traffic, the stress-response heightens our senses so we’re more alert and watchful, with faster reactions. Sometimes also called hormetic stressors, exercise like resistance training creates damage that, when our bodies repair it, makes us stronger in preparation to perform the action again. Exercise, however, can also be a chronic or long-term stress if the intensity level is too high for too long, we’re doing it every day and/or there’s not enough recovery time to make the improvements.


Stress elevates hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol which:

· Suppresses testosterone;

· Makes the body increase blood sugar levels;

· Encourages fat storage in the abdomen; and

· Contributes to the expansion of the brain’s fear centre from being bathed in these stress hormones.

Brain overwhelmed by stress

When we’re in this kind of fight-or-flight state, our bodies interpret it as deathly risk that has to take priority over everything else – i.e. we’re being chased by a predator. In this situation, digesting food effectively to make full use of the nutrients isn’t important – this is partly why taking time to sit quietly and eat mindfully is always recommended. The chronic stress often engendered by modern lifestyles is what leads to burnout over time.


Sleep can be impacted if we’re ruminating on a stressful situation or, if we're waking during the night for no other reason, it could be a stress-response to blood sugar dropping too low. Alternatively, waking during the night could be related to underlying background stress - when we move in to a light stage of sleep during each 90-minute sleep cycle, underlying stress could be enough to wake us completely, meaning our sleep is not as effective as it should be at the repair and recovery we desperately need.

When we’re breathing in a stressed state, our ribs and shoulders are rising and falling with short breaths – this is less effective at oxygenating the blood than if we’re breathing deeply and calmly as well as signaling to the body that we are still not safe.


Stress from traumatic events also gets stored in our cellular memory so keep an eye out for the next and final post with some information on what we can do about stress.

 
 
 

Comments


Contact

Head Office

Surfers Paradise  QLD  4217

Australia

Welcome to our website. If you continue to browse and use this website you are agreeing to comply with and be bound by the following disclaimer, together with our terms and conditions of use.

The information contained in this website is for general information purposes only and is provided by AheadofHealth.info.  Ahead of Health Coaching is not acting in the capacity of a doctor, licensed dieticianion/nutritionist, psychologist or other licenced or registered professional.  While we endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, we make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained on the website for any purpose.  Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk.  You need to make your own enquiries to determine if the information or products are appropriate for your intended use.

In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website.

Through this website you may be able to link to other websites which are not under the control of AheadofHealth.info.  We have no control over the nature, content and availability of those websites.  The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

Every effort is made to keep the website up and running smoothly.  However, AheadofHealth.info takes no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, the website being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond our control.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This website and its contents are the copyright of Ahead of Health Coaching – © 2020. All rights reserved.

Any redistribution or reproduction of part or all of the contents in any form is prohibited other than the following.  You may print or download contents to a local hard disk for your personal and non-commercial use only.  You may copy some extracts only to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material.

You may not, except with our express written permission, distribute or commercially exploit the content.  You may not transmit it or store it on any other website or other form of electronic retrieval system.

bottom of page