Tension It is a natural reaction when your body senses some kind of challenge or demand that activates the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. When this response is activated, your body starts releasing hormones called adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones help you manage your stress and in the short term, stress can be beneficial. However, if you are suffering from Chronic stressThis can affect your overall health and well-being.

Adrenaline makes your heart beat faster, raises your blood pressure and gives you energy to manage stress. Cortisol, also known as the primary stress hormone, increases sugar in the bloodstream, increasing glucose use in the brain and increasing the availability of substances in the body that repair tissues. The cortisol hormone also slows down other non-essential activities during a fight-or-flight situation.

This hormone also affects immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, reproductive system and growth processes. The Mayo Clinic says this complex natural alarm system also communicates with areas of the brain that control mood, motivation and fear.

All of these can be beneficial for managing short-term stress, however, if you have long-term stress and your body is always in fight or flight mode, it can seriously impact your overall health. When stress hormone levels are high, it affects your health in many ways.

Here’s a look at what happens to your body when your stress hormones are constantly on the rise.

increased heart rate and blood pressure

When your stress hormones are consistently elevated, it causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. This puts extra strain on the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke over time.

suppressed immune system

Chronic stress can weaken the immune system by reducing the effectiveness of immune cells. Cortisol suppresses the production of white blood cells and antibodies. It makes your body more vulnerable to infections, slows wound healing and also contributes to autoimmune diseases.

Weight gain and metabolic problems

When your cortisol is elevated, it can increase appetite, especially for high-calorie, sugary, and fatty foods. This can lead to weight gain, especially around the belly, and it can also cause insulin resistance, which increases the risk of type 2 diabetes.

digestive problems

Stress hormones can interfere with digestive processes, leading to problems like acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and other gastrointestinal disorders. Chronic stress can also affect the balance of gut bacteria, leading to digestive problems.

Effects on mental health

When you are constantly stressed, it can affect your mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and burnout. When your stress response is constantly activated, it can alter brain functioning, especially in areas of the brain involved in mood regulation, memory, and cognition.

Sleep disturbance problems

Increased stress hormones can affect sleep patterns, making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. This can lead to insomnia which further causes stress, creating a vicious cycle that affects overall health, mood, and cognitive function.

muscle tension and pain

Chronic stress causes muscles to be in a constant state of tension, leading to pain, discomfort, and tension headaches. Over time, this can lead to musculoskeletal problems, such as chronic back pain and stress-related disorders.

chronic inflammation

Chronic stress causes a constant release of cortisol and other stress hormones that can disrupt the body’s inflammatory response. When your cortisol levels are constantly elevated, it can cause inflammation and increase the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. When you have chronic inflammation in your body, it can lead to heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and even cancer.

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