Does Stress Affect Gastrointestinal Function? How to determine if you are eating right? How stress affects the body.

Hello everyone! Stress is an immediate response of the human body to rapidly changing external conditions. It can be any situation, both harmless and requiring caution. An individual is able to experience shock at the sight of a car racing through a red light, at the approach of an aggressive person or a stray dog. Such situations cause the release of hormones, with the help of which one or another reaction to such an event is formed.

Stress is an essential part of everyday human existence these days. Its peculiarity lies in exactly how and with what intensity the individual's body will react to the current situation. Most often, the greatest burden falls on the emotional or physical sphere. And today we will talk about how stress affects human health.

Causes of stress

The most common causes of stress are:

  • overload;
  • new work;
  • constant nagging of the boss;
  • strong shock;
  • conflict;
  • anxiety;
  • panic fear;
  • self-doubt;
  • significant hypothermia;
  • possible accident;
  • disease;
  • received injury;
  • hunger;
  • thirst, etc.

Such influences entail a corresponding reaction of the body. It can be very different. It depends on the complexity of the situation and its impact on the person. It also matters whether he himself, the people for whom he is responsible or his relatives are involved in it.

It is very important how it manifests itself. The person either hides and suppresses them. It may also be an option that he does not show the feelings that he actually experiences in order to achieve the necessary reaction of others.

Stress can arise at any time. Even a small child who is called to the blackboard at school is already experiencing it. In the future, almost every step of an adult is accompanied by one or another negative impact.

What are the reactions to stress?

If there are too many such situations or the body's reaction to them is inadequate, then they can be harmful. Gradually:

  • the person becomes anxious;
  • it decreases;
  • he is constantly nervous;
  • irritated;
  • crying;
  • screaming;
  • swearing, etc.

As a result, he is very quickly exhausted, tired, his attention is scattered, his memory is reduced, muscle clamps begin to appear, which entail quite severe pain.

Human health gradually begins to suffer. Oriental medicine is generally of the opinion that most diseases occur under the influence of stress. Indeed, bronchial asthma, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, stomach ulcers, etc. develop precisely as a result of nervous overload.

This happens because a significant negative nervous effect does not pass without a trace for a person. He develops a severe emotional disorder, temporary under normal conditions or permanent under continued stress. Any failure in the body of an individual begins with a psychological trauma. It is she who pulls with her other dysfunctions of internal organs.

Therefore, specialists in the field of medicine and psychology are closely engaged in the study of this serious problem. It has been proven that most diseases of the internal organs occur under the influence of nervous overload. If they are repeated too much, then the development of pathology is possible.

It happens in the following way. At the moment of a stressful situation, the endocrine organs are activated. An active release of hormones begins. Their excess has a strong effect on the brain, stomach, cardiovascular system. If such a state is prolonged or not neutralized, then a failure occurs.

A sharp release of a large number of various hormones leads to a significant increase in heart rate, sudden jumps in blood pressure, and the reaction of the parasympathetic system. If this is repeated often enough, then gradually the body's defenses are reduced. Sometimes a poor state of immunity is no longer able to protect a person from even the development of cancer.

Thus, an abundance of stress weakens a person, disrupts his metabolism, and inhibits regeneration processes in cells and tissues. They suffer from this:

  • leather;
  • muscles;
  • brain;
  • spinal cord;
  • bones;
  • hair;
  • nails;
  • thyroid;
  • spine, etc.

The bones become thinner, which leads to fractures, and the constantly elevated hormonal background disrupts the metabolism, genitourinary system, gastrointestinal tract and nerves.

In order to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to give an outlet to stress. This is possible in the presence of a muscular or emotional load. If you do not accumulate it, but get rid of it, then it can even be useful for the body.

The essence of a hormonal attack is to activate all the systems necessary to cope with the situation. Since these days, increased effort is usually not required for this, the way out can be given through an emotional or muscular response. Subsequently, the body, faced with a similar problem, no longer reacts to it so sharply, but quickly finds a solution already embedded in the memory cells.

If stress occurs only occasionally and is not destructive, then it can be beneficial to health. This happens when his action does not exceed the danger of the situation or the person knows how to cope with it. The main thing is that the problems do not become too frequent and strong. Otherwise, the body will simply stop fighting them.

At first, headaches begin to appear. Then there will be an arrhythmia, an increase in blood pressure. After a short time, these pathologies become generalized and become chronic.

It is very important not to try to cope with stress with alcohol, smoking or drugs. In addition to a strong blow to the psyche, the influence of such substances will significantly worsen the state of health. The consequences may be delayed. That is, at first a person will experience relief, and then a serious illness will gradually arise that can even lead to death.

How stress affects human health

Then a state called distress manifests itself. It negatively affects health by damaging cells and tissues. It is subdivided into:

  1. nervous;
  2. short-term;
  3. chronic;
  4. psychological;
  5. physiological.

Therefore, stress can affect a person in a variety of ways. You should not think that for a significant impairment of health, too strong a nervous shock is required. Small, but constantly recurring nervous situations are no less dangerous. Gradually, they merge together and pose a direct threat to health.

It can manifest itself abruptly, under the influence of a specific negative situation, or accumulate day after day in a traumatic environment.

Then stress can create serious problems. This is due to the fact that its flow is subject to a certain logic. The body's response is aimed at helping a person adapt to the unfavorable situation.

Therefore, stress goes through three successive periods of time, consisting of anxiety, the stage of adaptation to specific conditions and exhaustion, if this did not happen.

Anxiety and adaptation are the normal course of this reaction, leading to positive results. But in the case when there are a lot of stressful situations and the body does not have time to adapt to them, or they are repeated so often that the adaptation loses its strength, then the stage of exhaustion begins. It is usually followed by the development of any disease.

They can manifest themselves in the psyche, nervous system, metabolism and the functioning of the internal organs of a person. If he already suffers from any disease, it may become exacerbated and even degenerate into a malignant tumor. Most often, an excess of stressful situations leads to:

  • ischemic heart disease;
  • heart attack;
  • stroke
  • hypertension;
  • angina;
  • cholecystitis;
  • duodenal ulcer;
  • gastric colic;
  • dermatitis;
  • urticaria;
  • neurodermatitis;
  • neurosis.

Stress brings considerable harm to the nervous system and psyche. It becomes more and more difficult for a person to cope with ordinary everyday situations, he ceases to believe in himself, it is difficult for him to force himself to do something, he does not believe in the success of the work begun. Gradually, he develops depression and even suicidal thoughts.

A completely healthy person may first start to catch a cold. Then suffer from minor ailments, and later find that he has developed a serious illness.

Stress is very bad for women. Under its constant influence, they age, the skin ceases to be fresh and elastic, and the hair begins to thin.

Thus, a person should be able to cope with such situations or, if this is not possible, avoid them. If you live in a state of constant nervous tension, this can end in very serious consequences.

Under the influence of chronic stress, the human body simply wears out, the resources of his psyche and nervous system are depleted, and internal organs cease to cope with their load. The individual falls ill and is not always able to recover. As soon as one disease recedes, another immediately begins. The overall life expectancy is also reduced.

Therefore, it should be understood that stress can arise both under the influence of an external situation (conflict, attack) and internal (anxiety, fear). Moreover, the problem does not have to be real, it can only occur in the imagination of a person. For example, a student who has perfectly prepared for an exam experiences an inexplicable horror of the teacher. Or a person who has received a new position and is thoroughly familiar with the technological process is worried that he will not be able to cope with the work.

Therefore, the manifestation of such unreasonable emotions should be controlled, since the human brain, which sends signals to the endocrine organs, does not distinguish between where the real danger lies and where the imaginary one lies.

In addition, even if a person has already developed some kind of psychosomatic illness, he must learn to properly respond to stressful situations. This can be achieved by putting your emotional reactions under the control of your mind, for example,.

If a person begins to fully realize that every traumatic problem leads to a sharp deterioration in his health, then he should think about how important it is for him to work in an unfriendly team, engage in overly stressful work, or be married to an alcoholic.

Now you know how stress affects human health. Take care of yourself! See you soon!

"All diseases are from nerves!" is an expression often heard. Is this reality or exaggeration? And what diseases from nerves? The impact of stress on the body and human health is very high. Due to problems in the family or at work, a stomach ulcer can open, the heart starts to hurt, blood pressure rises, and a rash appears on the skin. All these diseases can be treated separately by a gastroenterologist, a cardiologist, a dermatologist. But when you remember the problem, everything repeats again. Why is this happening?

The fact is that the human brain is built like a perfect computer, and it receives information through the eyes, ears, skin, etc. The brain reacts very sensitively to any word, but a rude word causes a whole storm in the body. In response to psychological stress, the central nervous system releases biologically active substances, such as histamine, as a defense, which causes stomach ulcers. If a person is constantly nervous, then the nervous system wears out and gives wrong signals to other systems and organs.

Consider how stress affects metabolic processes and excess weight. Stress can be caused by any situation that causes strong negative emotions. Stress can be short-term and long-term (chronic). With short-term stress, the central nervous system gives signals, as a result, protective mechanisms are activated to help the body cope with a critical situation. The heart rate increases, blood flow to the muscles increases and decreases to the digestive tract. At the same time, adrenaline is produced, which stimulates the flow of glucose into the blood, and a large amount of energy. Muscles are strongly tensed for active actions: for defense, attack or flight.

After a stressful situation, energy reserves in the body are depleted, the level of glucose in the blood decreases, a feeling of hunger appears, and the body recovers. This mechanism is triggered by short-term stress, and if a person copes with it, then it does not have a further effect on health.

And if stress is less intense, but persists for a longer time (chronic stress), then what effect does it have on the human body? When a dangerous situation arises that requires constant tension, the central nervous system also triggers a defense mechanism. The adrenal glands produce the hormone cortisol (stress hormone) in large quantities, which increases blood glucose levels, which in turn produces a large amount of energy. But a person, as a rule, does not perform active actions under chronic stress and does not expend a lot of energy. As a result, excess glucose with an increased content of cortisol is synthesized into fat molecules. During chronic stress, carbohydrates are consumed faster, and a person often has a feeling of hunger. Gradually, the need for food increases, and body weight begins to increase every day. Therefore, during stress, the body can accumulate fat, excess weight appears. If chronic stress is not eliminated, then chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, insomnia, and headaches develop in the future.

How to reduce stress? What should be done to eliminate, prevent or reduce the impact of stress on health in a timely manner? Scientists have found that regular exercise helps the brain rewire itself to better respond to stress. During or after intense physical exercise, an exercising person may experience a feeling of euphoria, which is the prevention of stress. High physical activity and physical work reduce the negative impact of stress on the cardiovascular system. People who lead a sedentary lifestyle and engage in intense mental work experience intellectual signs of stress: increased heart rate (up to 150 beats / min), increased blood pressure.

How to recover from stress?

1.Regular physical exercise, including power loads on simulators, restore the functional systems of the body after stress.

2.Healthy, full sleep allows the brain to rest and recover. During sleep, many hormones are released.

4.Joint rest with loved ones and friends - trips to nature, to the cinema, etc.

The nature of the processes occurring in the body and leading to the appearance of acne has not yet been thoroughly studied. That is why this nasty disease is so difficult to treat. Among the causes that lead to the occurrence of rashes, stress sometimes appears. But the direct relationship between the emotional state and such skin manifestations has not yet been scientifically substantiated.

Sudden acne before a first date, wedding, graduation, graduation photo or other event at least once annoyed everyone. But a stressful situation is not necessarily reflected in skin rashes. It is impossible to predict the body's reaction to nervous tension, but it is impossible to deny the relationship between the state of the skin and emotions.

"All diseases are from nerves!" - a cliché based on scientific justification. The body, being in a state of emotional discomfort for some time, fails. The functions of organs are oppressed.

  1. First of all, the organs responsible for the production of hormones suffer. In a crisis situation, adrenaline is released, cortisol production increases. These hormones start a chain reaction, which results in an increase in the secretion of the sebaceous glands. The skin does not have time to cope with excess fat, becomes oily and covered with acne.
  2. The effect of adrenaline on the liver is an increase in glucose levels, which affects the formation of acne. And the liver itself in a stressful situation does not cope with the elimination of toxins, exacerbating the problem.
  3. Nervous strain becomes an impetus for the awakening of chronic diseases (gastritis, ulcers, and others). The connection of which with the appearance of acne is scientifically substantiated and beyond doubt. Rashes on certain areas of the face and body are read by a doctor as a map of pathological changes in the body.
  4. Prolonged depressive states are treated both with hormonal medications and folk methods with the help of herbs. An allergic skin reaction in the form of rashes is possible on individual components of drugs.

Thus, the direct relationship between the condition of the skin and stress has not yet found a scientific justification. But nervous tension catalyzes processes that directly affect the epidermis.

Other reactions of the body to stressful situations

In addition to the physiological connections that are described above, there is also a human factor, a problem.

  1. Trying to get out of a depressive state, men increase the number of cigarettes they smoke, women sometimes try to "seize" stress. Buns, chocolate, alcohol and other products come to the rescue, to which the skin reacts unambiguously - with rashes.
  2. Depression, nerves, fear, excitement cause uncontrolled nervous movements, a desire to endlessly fiddle with objects in your hands (phone, button, handkerchief, keys) or scratch your skin. The result is literally on the face.
  3. What are the sleepless nights spent in understanding the situation that caused depression. Hours of thinking over a way out of the current situation do not give the body a good rest. This causes a weakening of the immune system, inhibition of organ functions. The skin, which lacks the necessary nutrients, also suffers, becomes thinner, loses its ability to resist microorganisms.
  4. Hygiene in a stressful situation, it happens, fades into the background. Two sleepless nights spent by a teenager studying for exams leave no room for skin care. Not having received the necessary cleansing, the pores become clogged, becoming a beneficial environment for the formation of comedones.
  5. The stress of acne that has already appeared forces you to resort to decorative cosmetics in an attempt to hide inflammation and disguise blackheads. This is a mistake that leads to an increase in clogged pores and aggravates the situation. A vicious circle closes: depression grows, acne appears on a nervous basis.

The processes that occur in the body at the cellular level during emotional disruptions create fertile ground for the appearance of acne. And a person, having lost control over the situation, aggravates the problem with spontaneous and thoughtless actions.

How to stabilize the psycho-emotional state

It is useless to fight acne that has appeared as a result of nervous breakdowns without eliminating the root cause. Therefore, the right decision is to make efforts to achieve emotional balance.

  1. No matter how hackneyed it may sound, it is important to abstractly look at the problem, to find positive aspects in it. If you cannot do this on your own, do not hesitate to consult a doctor.
  2. It is pointless to spend the night thinking about the problem and re-experiencing stress in this way. Talk to your doctor about choosing sedatives to help you sleep. It is not necessary to take medications, medicinal herbs are also suitable for this purpose.
  3. Replace meaningless pastime with sports. This step will have two positive effects at once: it will distract and saturate the body with oxygen, which will have a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin.

Psychological problems should not be left to chance. The common belief that time heals is a misconception. The problem hides, "falls asleep" in order, under favorable conditions, to remind of itself with a vengeance.

What to do to relieve skin manifestations caused by stress

Even after eliminating the source of the problem, do not expect acne to disappear on its own. Comprehensive help to the skin in the fight against rashes, strengthens the body and improves well-being.

  • Don't pop inflamed pimples. This leads to the spread of infection (and acne is nothing more than an infected pimple) on the surface of the skin.
  • Increase your fluid intake. Pure water speeds up the metabolism, helps to remove toxins, replenishes the disturbed water balance of the epidermis. A healthy body needs two liters of water per day. Clean, except for tea, coffee and entrees. Coffee, by the way, is better to exclude from the diet.
  • To eliminate comedones (black dots), use steam baths based on chamomile, sage, calendula. These herbs reduce irritation and help fight bacteria. After steaming, use a gentle scrub. Finish off with a nourishing cream.
  • Eels cannot be steamed. And not a single inflammatory process in the body can be exposed to elevated temperatures. The meaning of the fight against such rashes comes down to drying pimples, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory point effects. To solve these problems, clay-based masks with the addition of aloe, calendula, and juniper are suitable.
  • To help the skin, do not be too lazy to follow a diet. Add foods of plant origin, exclude fried, fatty and spicy. Drink a course of bifidobacteria, which normalize bowel function.

Acne and blackheads resulting from psychological problems are a temporary phenomenon, but this is no reason to ignore their formation. They signal problems in the body that stress has caused.

How to prevent the problem of acne on nerves

It is impossible to predict when and for what reason nerves will fail. Therefore, “laying straws” will not succeed either. But following measures to keep the body in shape will help prevent the occurrence of acne.

  • Cleanse your face and body properly. Choose skin care products that suit your skin type. Remember that she needs cleansing, toning and nourishment. Do not neglect these procedures. But do not abuse them, because excessive cleansing thins the top layer of the skin, which makes it vulnerable and irritated.
  • Carry out procedures that strengthen the immune system. Drink a course of vitamins, restore the intestinal microflora with the help of lactobacilli. Walk more often in the fresh air and go in for general strengthening sports: yoga, fitness, running, swimming.
  • Increase stress resistance. Take specialized courses, download video tutorials or books. Do not be too lazy to invest time and patience in developing your own qualities. This will affect the general condition and will be useful in psychologically difficult life situations.
  • Rest. A night at a computer or even a smart book is stressful for the body. The body needs sleep to recuperate. A weakened body is not able to deal with stress. The number of hours of sleep needed for a good rest, individually. But the generally accepted norm is 7-8 hours a day. If you feel tired during the day, then take half an hour to sit with your eyes closed and relax.

Fighting fear, anxiety, depression requires energy and fortitude. To help the body survive in a stressful situation, daily care, nutrition and regimen help. A prepared body endures emotional stress steadfastly and without serious consequences.

How Stress Affects the Skin

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A lot of people have heard about it. That because of stress, pregnancy cannot occur. Some laugh at such an opinion, while others take everything too seriously and attribute this reason to themselves.

Possible links between stress and conception

It is worth noting the fact that stress is simply necessary for every person in order for some organs to function normally, and also for there to be no problems with mental and physical activity. But when a person lives in constant severe stress, then his body simply ceases to cope with it, and then the benefit from it disappears.

The theory that stress can affect conception is quite realistic. Moreover, many women say that during nervous tension or a prolonged stressful situation they noticed a delay in menstruation or the absence of ovulation on time. And then it is worth concluding that if ovulation does not pass, then conception will also not occur.

How can stress affect ovulation?

Hormonal reasons. The main version is that during stress, too much of the hormone prolactin is released in the body, and it is very negatively displayed on LH and FSH, which are simply indispensable for ovulation to occur. The amount of the hormone estrogen may also decrease, which will lead to a decrease in the thickness of the endometrium, and this will allow the fertilized egg to attach to the wall of the uterus.

Also, do not forget about men in whom these hormones are responsible not only for potency, but also for the formation of sperm. Therefore, if the amount of LH and FSH hormones is disturbed, then the spermatozoa will be defective, and this will significantly worsen the quality of the seminal fluid.

Nerve and muscle disorders

It is believed that stress, even at a nervous level, can affect conception. This is because the reproductive organs, like any other associated with the brain. Therefore, during stress, they also receive impulses that cause smooth muscle contractions. This can cause spasm of the fallopian tubes or uterine hypertonicity. This will make it very difficult for the egg to move towards the uterus. If we consider the male body, then his sexual desire and potency can significantly decrease in this way. Very rarely, there are problems with ejaculation disorders, when during orgasm sperm ceases to be released or its outflow goes in the opposite direction and enters the bladder.

Sometimes, with frequent contraction of muscle fibers in the body, alpha-amylase is produced, which is also called the stress enzyme. And this also does not have a very positive effect on the reproductive system.

How to reduce the harmful effects of stress?

The main advice here can only be that you need to immediately get rid of severe and constant stress. Too much harm from it, and almost no benefit. To do this, you must first find out the cause of stress and its source. And only then try to reduce it to a minimum or even remove it altogether. Sometimes it happens that stress comes from constant stress at work and from prolonged attempts to conceive a child. If you have stress of this nature, then you need to try to relax, perhaps change the situation. This will help break the vicious circle and give you a lot of positive emotions. For example, the relaxation technique helps well in such cases. When the effect of stress on conception was studied and this technique was used as a medicine, within six months, 34% of the women who participated in the study were able to become pregnant. Massage, spa treatments, aromatherapy and so on also have a good effect.

You can avoid the negative effects of stress by practicing yoga, meditation, tai chi and other techniques.

Stress is the body's response to events that a person may not physically be able to handle. Stress can mean different things to different people, but most often it has to do with relationships, family, work, or even money. In addition to the characteristic feeling of anxiety, stress can also have a strong effect on our organs.
When a person is nervous, cortisol levels rise in their body; it can compromise the functioning of the immune system. Stress also increases levels of the hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine, which increase blood pressure and make us sweat more. An increase in these hormones reduces blood flow to the skin and reduces the activity of the stomach (which can make digestion much more difficult). Let's see which organs in the body are affected by stress.

The effect of stress on the skin

Stress can cause serious skin problems, from acne and blisters to psoriasis, eczema and other types of dermatitis. Under the influence of stress, the skin becomes more sensitive and more reactive. By reducing stress, you can help reduce the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the body (stress hormones and other chemicals). If you learn to manage stress, then this will reduce the secretion of neuropeptides.

Effect of stress on the brain

As a result of the impact on the body of stress, headaches or even migraines often occur. This is due to the buildup of tension around the head, neck and shoulders. A migraine attack can be prevented if you try to relax or take a nap. Stress can also affect the brain! Long-term stress, anxiety, or depression can lead to Alzheimer's or dementia. Studies show that long-term exposure to stress stimulates the growth of proteins that can cause Alzheimer's disease and lead to memory loss. Individuals who smoke and abuse alcohol are most susceptible to brain diseases. You can avoid this by practicing yoga, meditation, tai chi, and other techniques that have been proven effective in reducing stress.

The effect of stress on the heart

Since stress raises blood pressure, it can be said that it has a direct effect on heart disease. Long-term stress also affects blood sugar, so over time it can lead to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and hardening of the arteries.
The emotional effects of stress also change the rhythm of the heart, so negative emotions are dangerous for people with arrhythmias. It's also important to note that stress causes the body to release inflammatory markers into the bloodstream, which can worsen existing heart disease or increase the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

What effect does stress have on the stomach and intestines?

Our stomach is very sensitive to the effects of stress. If you try to eat something immediately after a stressful situation, the nutrients from the food will not be absorbed properly. Chronic stress can change the amount of gastric secretion and also affect the intestines (change mucosal permeability, visceral sensitivity, and blood circulation in the intestinal mucosa). Our brain and gut are directly connected via tiny nerves (mainly the vagus nerve) that help make connections between the brain and stomach. Thus, the brain (and the stress associated with its work!) can affect bowel function. Stress not only affects physiological functions in the gut, but can even change the composition of the microflora due to changes in neurotransmitter and inflammatory levels of cytokines. Chronic exposure to stress can lead to a range of digestive disorders: gastroesophageal reflux disease, stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, and even food allergies.
Stress has a direct impact on how the gut functions. Stress response in the gut leads to reduced nutrient absorption, reduced intestinal oxygenation, 4-fold reduced blood flow to digested food particles (and therefore reduced metabolism); as a result, the efficiency of enzymatic reactions is reduced by 20,000 times.
Stress is incredibly detrimental to gut health and can even lead to tissue damage leading to inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, chronic skin conditions, with kidneys, allergic and atopic diseases, degenerative conditions, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, as well as inflammatory bowel diseases (irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn's disease, etc.).
Interestingly, the connection between the stomach and intestines can work both ways. Not only does the brain affect the GI tract, but even the GI tract can affect how we process our emotions. This connection goes both ways. A restless gut can send signals to the brain, just as a restless brain can send signals to the intestines. Therefore, diseases of the stomach or intestines can be the cause of anxiety, stress or depression. This is because the brain and the gastrointestinal tract are closely connected. So closely that they should be considered as a single system.

What effect does stress have on the pancreas?

Stress creates the body's "fight or flight" response when blood pressure, heart rate, and blood sugar rise. The pancreas responds to the effects of stress by producing large amounts of insulin. Due to chronic stress, insulin is constantly elevated, which can damage our arteries, increase the risk of diabetes and obesity, and contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome.
The effect of stress on the reproductive system
Stress is known to reduce fertility and sexual behavior. Stress hormones (glucocorticoids) decrease levels of a brain hormone called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (the body's main sex hormone) and also increase levels of another hormone that suppresses GnRH - a double whammy for the reproductive system. Chronic stress leads to a drop in sex drive, as well as a drop in fertility. Therefore, it is difficult for a woman experiencing constant stress to become pregnant. When glucocorticoids are released in response to stress, our pituitary gland stops releasing follicle-stimulating hormone as well as luteinizing hormone gonadotropin. Thus, stress suppresses the production of testosterone and estradiol and dampens sexual behavior.

The effect of stress on the immune system

The immune system helps protect the body from foreign bodies (antigens) such as bacteria, viruses, and cancer cells. Under the influence of stress, corticosteroids produced in the body can reduce the effectiveness of the immune system, reducing the number of lymphocytes. Short-term suppression of the immune system is not dangerous. However, chronic stress puts the immune system at risk. The stress hormone cortisol causes the cells of the immune system to fail to respond to hormonal control; this then leads to high levels of inflammation in the body. Stress can also have an indirect effect on the immune system, as many people calm their nerves with cigarettes, alcohol, or other harmful behavioral strategies.

What effect does stress have on joints and muscles?

Pain in bones, joints and muscles can also be stress-induced. Studies have shown that there is a correlation between an increase in depressive symptoms and joint pain. Anti-inflammatory drugs can protect against pain that is the result of stress. Holy basil, ginger, and turmeric are among the few anti-inflammatory agents that can be used to treat these pains.
As you can see, stress has a multifactorial effect on the human body. The negative impact of stress affects all tissues and organs. Therefore, you need to learn how to protect yourself from stress, using various meditative and relaxation techniques, and, as far as possible, you should avoid stressful situations.