Effects of stress on the body

Stress triggers the body's fight-or-flight response. Stress can have negative effects on your mood, immune and digestive systems, and cardiovascular health. But how to reduce stress or how to cure it?

Chronic stress

Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences. Everyone expresses stress from time to time. Stress can be caused by anything from everyday responsibilities such as work and family to serious life events such as a new diagnosis, war or the death of a loved one.

In urgent, short-term situations, stress can be good for your health. This can help you deal with potentially serious situations. Your body responds to stress by releasing hormones that increase your heart and breathing rates and prepare your muscles to respond.

If stress levels remain high for much longer than is necessary for survival, it can harm your health. Chronic stress can cause a variety of symptoms and affect your overall well-being. Symptoms of chronic stress include:

• irritability
• anxiety
• depression
• headaches
• insomnia

Who is most stressed? And what is the rarest?

In the last decade, researchers (American Psychological Association) have studied the level of stress experienced by different generations and genders and its effects on the body.

Interestingly, average stress levels decrease as people age: Millennials > Gen X > Baby Boomers > Seniors

What causes us stress the most?

According to a survey of researchers, the biggest sources of stress are:

How can stress affect the body?

Stress can cause many behavioral and mood disorders, such as overeating (especially junk food), skipping meals, self-medicating with alcohol, smoking, insomnia, irritability, and more.

Chronic stress can have several particularly negative health consequences. For example, a negative effect on the immune system can be caused by a decrease in the activity of natural "killer" cells and a decrease in the secretion of IgA, which protects the digestive tract from "invaders".

Chronic stress can also disrupt the functioning of the digestive tract, as beneficial bifidobacteria and lactobacilli decrease, and pathogenic E. coli and enterobacteria increase.

Chronic stress can also increase or decrease cortisol levels. At first, cortisol levels may increase. Elevated cortisol can have negative effects on the immune system, blood pressure, blood sugar, weight loss, and more. However, over time, the adrenal glands can become tired and cortisol levels can decrease. Adaptogenic herbs and some B group vitamins may help regulate cortisol levels.*

What can help overcome stress?

There are a number of nutrients and herbal remedies that can help alleviate the physical effects of stress on the body.*

Adaptogenic botanicals can be extremely effective in managing stress.* But what are adaptogens? Adaptogens increases the body's resistance to stress by acting as a stabilizer or normalizer. 

For example, if cortisol levels are high, an adaptogen can help bring cortisol levels down to normal, and if cortisol levels are already normal, an adaptogen can help maintain them.*

There are a number of plants that fall into the category of adaptogens. The two best-known adaptogens are Korean or Chinese ginseng (lat. Panax ginseng) and Siberian ginseng (lat. Eleutherococcus senticosus).*

Other adaptogenic plants: ashwagandha (lat. Withania somnifera), licorice (lat. Glycyrrhiza glabra) and pink rhodiola (lat. Rhodiola rosea). Korean or Chinese ginseng, Siberian ginseng. Licorice and ashwagandha adaptogenically affect primarily the adrenal glands, while rhodiola primarily affects the central nervous system, as it helps to normalize the amount of neurotransmitters in the brain.*

Can I improve my gut health by reducing stress?

Although there is no known causal relationship between stress and appendicitis, managing stress can still help your gut health. Evidence-based methods:

• breathing meditation
• body scan
• yoga
• physical activity
• stress reduction apps

What do B vitamins do?

Several B vitamins can help individuals suffering from stress.

• Thiamine (vitamin B1) is an adrenal protective nutrient that can reduce stress-induced fluctuations in cortisol levels.*
• Niacinamide (vitamin B3) can enhance REM sleep and reduce alertness in insomnia patients* by converting tryptophan into serotonin.*
• A pantothenic acid (vitamin B5) deficiency can disrupt adrenal function and weaken the overactive cortisol response to stress.*
• Pyridoxal 5′-phosphate (active vitamin B6) is a cofactor in the formation of neurotransmitters (GABA, serotonin and dopamine).*
• 5-MTHF (active folic acid) is essential for the formation of BH4, which is required for the activity of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine.*
• Methylcobalamin (active vitamin B12) helps restore circadian rhythms to improve sleep and normalize cortisol levels.*

You can choose from those selected by specialists for relaxation appropriate supplements.

Stress is manageable - start managing it. Stress is a part of life. However, there are things that can be done so that it does not pose a threat to your health and well-being.

If you are not sure which vitamins or other supplements the most appropriate at the moment, take the test "Your Day" and find out  personal recommendation!

The strip is prepared based on information.

*VMVT has not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.