Chronic stress

Chronic stress is the response to emotional pressure suffered for a prolonged period over which an individual perceives he or she has no control. It involves an endocrine system response in which occurs a release of corticosteroids. If this continues for a long time, it can cause damage to an individual's physical and mental health.

Physiology [edit]

Animals exposed to distressing events over which they have no control respond by releasing corticosteroids.^[1][2] The sympathetic branch of the nervous system is activated, also releasing epinephrine and norepinephrine.^[3]. These, if prolonged, lead to structural changes in the brain. Changes happen to neurons and their synapses in the hippocampus^[4] and medial prefrontal cortex.^[5] These produce impairments in working memory^[6] and spatial memory,^[6] as well as increased aggression.^[7]

Linked to impairment of the medial prefrontal cortex are deficits in the part of the striatum with which it is linked.^[8] This can bias decision-making strategies, as affected individuals shift from flexible behavior to one dominated by habit.^[8] Changes also occur to dopaminergic activity in the prefrontal cortex.^[6]

Stress has a role in humans as a method of reacting to difficult and possibly dangerous situations. The "fight or flight" response when one perceives a threat helps the body exert energy to fight or run away to live another day. This response is noticeable when the adrenal glands release epinephrine, causing the blood vessels to constrict and heart rate to increase. In addition, cortisol is another hormone that is released under stress and its purpose is to raise the glucose level in the blood. Glucose is the main energy source for human cells and its increase during time of stress is for the purpose of having energy readily available for over active cells.^[9]

The release of these hormones is intended to be temporary. If someone is under stress for long periods of time they may have adverse health effects later on, such as hypertension and increased risk of cardiovascular disease.^[10]

Different factors may prolong this "fight or flight" reaction in the body. Chronic stress can be rooted in prolonged psychological stressors. For example, some studies have looked at the health effects of social discrimination in African Americans. This demographic has markedly higher hypertension levels that are attributed to higher levels of perceived social discrimination. This phenomenon has been coined John Henryism by sociologist James Sherman.^[11]

Effects of Long-Term Stress [edit]

While the immediate effects of stress hormones are beneficial in a particular situation, long-term exposure to stress creates a high level of these hormones that remains constant. While in the short term they may be helpful, long-term exposure may lead to high blood pressure (and subsequently heart disease), damage to muscle tissue, inhibition of growth, and suppression of the immune system ^[12]. One study found that exposure to long-term stress and the adrenal steroids can cause permanent loss of neurons in the hippocampus ^[13], which could affect memory as well as other cognitive functions.

Symptoms [edit]

In humans, symptoms of chronic stress can vary from anxiety, depression, social isolation, headache, abdominal pain or lack of sleep to back pain and difficulty concentrating. Other symptoms include:

In severe cases it can lead to panic attacks or a panic disorder. Stress plays a role in triggering or worsening depression and cardiovascular disease.^[15]

Treatment [edit]

There are a variety of methods to control chronic stress, including exercise, healthy diet, stress management, relaxation techniques, adequate rest, and relaxing hobbies. It has been suggested that magnesium supplements can help.^[16]

See also [edit]

• Stress (biology)
• Psychosomatic medicine
• Psychoneuroimmunology
• Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers (book)

References [edit]