Learn About How Stress Impacts Our Hormones & Our Health
In today’s world we tend to be “go, go, go”. Not only do we have to work more hours, but we also may have to look after children/ grandchildren, cook meals, exercise, go to events, the list is endless. I like to think of us going through life as an elastic band- we need to expand to use energy to achieve in areas of life, but we also need to relax in order to prevent the elastic band becoming out of shape. We tend to be very bad at the relaxing part and spend the majority of our time stressed, which causes the elastic band
to be mis shaped and not fit for purpose.
What’s Happening Inside Us?
When in a stressful situation, the body releases cortisol and other stress hormones as part of its ‘fight or flight’ mode. In this ‘fight or flight’ state, we may experience increased blood flow, a faster heart beat, dilated pupils and increased sweating. Under intense or prolonged stress, the body can also shut down the gastrointestinal and reproductive systems, as it does not need these in survival mode – this may explain why some people tend to eat very little when they are stressed, as metabolism slows down for energy conservation.
Dr Ghazala Aziz-Scott, hormone specialist explains, “Each hormone in the body has an optimal level in order to maintain hormonal balance. When there is a rise in cortisol as a result of high amounts of stress, other hormones such as thyroid stimulating hormone, insulin, and sex hormones may deplete. This can trigger a range of physical and mental health issues. While raised cortisol does no harm to the body in the short term, prolonged or high levels of stress can lead to hormone imbalance which can in turn lead to other conditions. The good news is that this can be addressed with a combination of positive lifestyle changes to re-establish balance and create harmony within the body.”
How Does Stress Disrupt Our Hormones?
Hormones are important for every bodily function. They are the chemical messengers that coordinate the many different metabolic processes that take place in the body throughout the day, and they exist within a delicate balance.
When you get stressed, the hormone that increases as a result is cortisol. Cortisol is our survival hormone and it takes precedence over all the other hormones in stressful situations. When cortisol undergoes an abnormal increase through extreme stress, all other bodily processes are compromised.
The body goes into fight or flight mode, which means that all of its energy goes into supporting cortisol, while all other hormones are put on the back burner.
Too much cortisol can cause the body to produce much less progesterone in the second half of the menstrual cycle, and as a result can cause oestrogen dominance.
The combination of less progesterone and more oestrogen can impact mood, as progesterone acts as a natural antidepressant.
This can also impact fertility. Imbalances in cortisol metabolism also lead to adrenal fatigue or burnout.
The physical symptoms of high stress can be different in every person, but here are some common concerns:
Low energy/fatigue
Headaches
Upset stomach (including diarrhoea, constipation, and nausea)
Muscle aches
Chest pain
Rapid heartbeat
Insomnia
Frequent colds and infections
Loss of sexual desire and/or ability
Impact of stress on the body
Chronic stress (stress that’s felt in high amounts for extended periods of time), can have significant impacts on your long-term health. Research shows that when people experience elevated levels of stress for longer than the body needs, every system in the body has the potential to be affected.
Some potential long-term effects of chronic stress are:
Mental health struggles, such as depression, anxiety and personality disorders
Social withdrawal/isolating self from loved ones and friends
Cardiovascular problems, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, heart attacks and stroke
Obesity or eating disorders
Menstrual problems/irregular periods
Skin and hair problems, such as eczema, acne and hair loss
Digestive problems, such as acid reflux, gastritis or an irritable colon
If you want some helpful tips to reduce your stress levels please book an appointment with our dietitian.
She will work with you to come up with a plan to help you reduce and cope with stress better.
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