Effects of stress on health

The effects of stress

When ill, usually want to be cured with a few pellets. If the problem comes back, we go to a specialist in a particular part of the body. Our physical ailments still too rarely combine with the psyche.

Meanwhile, the human body is a unity in which emotions are closely connected with the body. The study of these relationships is a branch of science called psycho-immunology.

What happens to our bodies when we experience a stressful situation? Through the action of the sympathetic nervous system of our body reacts to prepare flee or fight. - Adrenal cortex grows and begins to increased production of hormones - including corticosteroids and epinephrine (a hormone called fear).

It speeds up the heart rate, increases blood pressure, facilitates and accelerates respiration, reducing blood flow to these organs, which for a while can do without it. Such a reaction is priceless in a situation requiring emergency mobilization. Thanks to it, our ancestors were able to escape from wild animals, defeat enemies and ensure the survival of the species.

Stress lowers immunity

But there is one problem - because the body brings together all the forces preparing to fight, "off" then the immune function, ie the body's immune responses. Under stress disappears also the thymus, the gland responsible, among others, for maturation of immune cells. So if a person is regularly exposed to severe stress, increases its susceptibility to diseases from common infections to cancer.

This was confirmed by research and clinical observations. It was discovered that the person who suffered a strong trauma - eg. A car accident - is more susceptible to infections and infections even by night from the removal of the stressor. Particularly strong dependence arise between stress and skin diseases.

Stress-free life?

On-site thus they appear to be good advice that we hear so often: "think positively", "avoid stress", "live stress free". So why is so difficult for us to implement them, and even under similar wisdom fall into a vicious circle annoy the fact that we are nervous? This is because the stress is man's natural. Doctors and biologists define it as the body's response to the challenging situation - any change in the external environment or internal, which requires adapting to new conditions.

And everything would be normal if we Stressed only current situations. - However, research has shown that for most people a source of stress is the situation with the past or one that is yet to happen. And the brain does not distinguish imagination from the real situation. So starts the mechanisms of stress, a halt immune responses. This mechanism one can see, if you close your eyes and imagine something to eat, with a distinctive aroma and flavor. After a moment, we feel the release in our mouths saliva.

What then should we do? Limitation of worrying about the future or the past will certainly be difficult, but not impossible. Experts also advise mostly to himself enough sleep (at least 7 hours a day - while you sleep your body regenerates), discontinued drugs, adhere to a balanced diet, and finally ensure that the appropriate amount of exercise and rest, seek relaxation techniques suitable for each other. That's all true, but not all.

Immunologically strong personality

Not every person is experiencing stress in the same way and it is equally susceptible. At the core of our response to the negative experiences are certain personality traits. For this purpose, scientists have term immunologically strong personality, which is such a strong psyche, in stressful situations, able to use their own resources. Hence - resistant to stress and healthier. Found very specific features which make up the personality immunologically strong.

Belong to them:

Creating relationships based on love and helping others. Altruism has a positive impact not only on the psyche.

The relationship between the occurrence of the above features and phenomena and better running the immune system, the cardiovascular system more efficient and less frequent incidence of the disease has been confirmed scientifically. It turns out that self-development, work on their own character, soul and mind is of great value also for our bodies and the quality of everyday life.