Nancy’s Health: Stress

Nancy’s Story Continues…

  • IVF was unsuccessful
  • Nancy’s stress levels were rising
  • After extensive discussions with Paul, they decided to adopt
  • They did not have to wait long
  • The adoption agency had a 2 year old boy – Sam
  • At about the same time Nancy’s mother fell and fractured her hip
  • She traveled north to assist her parents
  • She was shocked at the physical disarray her father was in
  • Her stress levels continued increasing with everything “on her plate”
  • She fell back into old eating habits
  • Eating was the one thing she felt she had control over

Overview

  • Stress is a natural physical & mental reaction to life experiences.
  • The body responds to stress by releasing hormones that increase your heart & breathing rates & ready your muscles to respond.
  • If your stress response doesn’t stop firing, it can take a toll on your health & overall well-being.
    • Irritability
    • Anxiety
    • Depression
    • Headaches
    • Insomnia
Illustration of how different parts of the body respond to stress.
In response to stress, the hypothalamus (H) releases the corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) into the anterior pituitary (P), causing the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) into the blood flow. ACTH stimulates the generation of glucocorticoids (cortisol in humans and corticosterone in mice) in the cortex of the adrenal gland (A), which are then released into the blood. Stress also activates the autonomic sympathetic nerves in the medulla of the adrenal gland to elicit the production of catecholamines, norepinephrine and epinephrine, which are then released into the blood. Glucocorticoids and catecholamines influence the generation of interleukins, which are involved in the viability and proliferation of immunocompetent gut cells via receptors.

Effects of Stress on the Body

Central Nervous and Endocrine Systems

Diagram showing the central nervous system: the brain and spinal cord.

  • CNS is in charge of the “fight or flight” response
  • The hypothalamus triggers the adrenal glands to release the stress hormones adrenaline & cortisol
  • Increasing heart rate & sending blood to the areas that need it the most (muscles, heart, other important organs)
  • When the perceived fear is gone, the hypothalamus tells all systems to go back to normal
  • If the stressor does not go away, the response will continue
  • Chronic stress is also a factor in behaviours such as overeating, not eating enough, alcohol, drug abuse, and social withdrawal

Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems

Diagram of the respiratory and cardiovascular system.

  • Stress hormones affect the respiratory & cardiovascular systems
  • Breathing increases in an effort to quickly distribute oxygen-rich blood to the body
  • The heart pumps faster
  • Stress hormones cause the blood vessels to constrict & divert more oxygen to muscles
  • May also increase blood pressure
  • Frequent & chronic stress will make the heart work too hard for too long
  • Increase risk of stroke or heart attack

Digestive System

Diagram of the digestive system

  • The liver produces extra blood sugar (glucose) to give a boost of energy
  • Under chronic stress, the body may not be able to keep up with the extra glucose surge
  • Chronic stress may increase the risk of developing type II diabetes
  • Rush of hormones, rapid breathing, increased heart rate may upset your digestive system
  • Can increase the risk for ulcers or cause existing ones to act up (ulcers are caused by a bacterium called H. pylori)
  • Stress may also affect the way food moves through the body, leading to diarrhea or constipation
  • May experience nausea, vomiting, stomachache

Muscular System

Diagram of the muscular system

  • Muscles tense up to protect themselves from injury during stress
  • Once you relax they tend to release
  • Chronic stress may not give your muscles the chance to relax
  • Tight muscles cause headaches, back & shoulder pain, body aches
  • Over time this unhealthy cycle may affect your ability to exercise, & pain medication for relief may be used

Sexuality & Reproductive System

Diagram of the male and female reproductive systems.

  • Not unusual to lose desire when under constant stress
  • Short-term stress may cause men to produce more testosterone, the effect doesn’t last long
  • Chronic stress will cause a man’s testosterone levels to drop
  • This can interfere with sperm production & cause erectile dysfunction or impotence
  • Chronic stress may increase risk of infection of male reproductive organs
  • For women, stress can affect the menstrual cycle
  • Irregular, heavier, or more painful menstrual periods
  • Chronic stress can also magnify the physical symptoms of menopause

Immune System

Diagram of the immune system

  • Stimulates the immune system, which is good for immediate situations
  • Over time, stress hormones weaken the immune system & reduce the body’s response to foreign invaders
  • Chronic stress causes more susceptibility to viral illnesses & other infections
  • Can increase the time it takes to recover from an illness or injury

Sandwich Generation

  • Nancy is now looking after a toddler & her parents
  • She is still working & going to school
  • Women often feel overextended

Strategies to help manage stress:

  • Identify stressors
  • Recognize how you deal with stress
  • Find healthy ways to manage stress
  • Take care of yourself
  • Ask for professional support

License

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Multi-Course Case Studies in Health Sciences Copyright © 2021 by Laura Banks; Brenda Barth; Robert Balogh; Adam Cole; Mika Nonoyama; Elita Partosoedarso; and Otto Sanchez is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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