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The Effects Of Stress On Stress And Health

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According to a National Institute of Mental Health article on stress and health, stress is defined “any change in the environment that requires your body to react and adjust in response.” The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses.
Not all stress is bad, though. In fact, stress responses can be life-saving in necessary situations. The chemicals and hormones released during a stress response prepare the body to face a threat or flee to safety, this is commonly known as the fight or flight response. When faced with a dangerous situation, your heart rate increases, you breathe faster, your muscles tense, and your brain uses more oxygen, all functions necessary for survival (Brannon et al., 2014).
Nonetheless, those same chemicals that can be life-saving in short bursts are harmful if the response is prolonged, as stress suppresses bodily functions that aren 't needed for immediate survival (Brannon et al., 2014). Further, your immunity is lowered and your digestive and reproductive systems stop working normally (McEwen et al., 2011).
Feelings normally related with chronic stress and an overproduction of the stress hormone cortisol, are anxiousness, nervousness, distraction, worry, and depression (Brannon et al., 2014). Additionally, stomachache is common due to a slowing in the emptying of the stomach. Increase in appetite is another physical symptom of stress, which can lead to weight gain. Stress also causes a weakening of the immune

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