If you have ever been stressed, then you know the emotions that you go through. It can feel like a great weight crashing over you with your head feeling like it is going to explode under the pressure of everything you can’t get out of your head.
Whilst a little bit of stress can be beneficial to your body, too much stress, e.g. chronic stress, can cause problems within your body such as a high inflammatory response that produces chronic inflammation which will affect the immune system and potentially cause chronic diseases.
In today’s article, we will look at the link between the stress response and how it can cause inflammation in the body, and what that can lead to if the stress hormones are not dealt with effectively.
Without further ado – how does stress cause inflammation? Let’s read on to find out.
What is Inflammation?
When your body produces an inflammatory response, it is dealing with a threat, whether it is classed as a foreign invader, for example, a virus or bacteria that has made its way in, a disease such as cancer, or it is a psychological/emotional stressor.
Whatever it is, your body will send out a lot of chemicals to attack the ‘invaders’ to hopefully fight them off and keep you safe. These are called pro-inflammatory cytokines which are inflammatory markers.
What Happens When Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines Stick Around?
Once these chemicals have done their job, they are meant to leave, however, if you are going through periods of long stress, e.g. psychological stress, constant fight or flight response, etc., then they start to stick around in your body and turn it into a ‘habit’.
You end up with stress-induced inflammation that does not want to leave and will start attacking your immune system. If you develop early life stress from a young age, then this can multiple problems later on in life.
As this cycle carries on, the inflammation will start to affect your body in a variety of ways that can end up seriously affecting your health and making it harder for you to feel well.
Stress and Chronic Conditions
With prolonged stress, there is the potential for stress-related diseases to arise which we will delve into below to show you how your body will react if you are not able to calm your stress responses over time.
If you are unable to regulate your cortisol levels (stress hormone) then your immune response and inflammatory response will be affected and your tissue sensitivity will decrease with the uptake of cortisol.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
This is an umbrella term when talking about different conditions which include such things as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Both of these can be made worse through stress, and the way you digest food and absorb the nutrients from what you eat can be negatively affected.
Cardiovascular Disease
Inflammation can cause the development of a disease called atherosclerosis which is a precursor to heart disease.
People who are feeling stressed all the time are more likely to develop bad habits that affect their bodies, for instance, they may start smoking or not exercising.
Over time this can have a hand in developing a cardiovascular disease which will severely affect them.
You can see the link between stress and inflammation is not so wide, which is why it is essential to understand what can happen when chronic stress is introduced.
Autoimmune Diseases
When acute stress turns into chronic stress, our body’s ability to calm down those elevated inflammation levels can be incredibly difficult, so difficult in fact that an autoimmune disease can appear.
Grave’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis can develop from psychological stress, and the presentation of the inflammatory autoimmune disease will be affected by the length of time the stress is present as well as the type of stress.
Premature Aging
Stress is a silent accelerator of the aging process, and its impact on our appearance can be quite profound. When we’re stressed, our bodies release hormones like cortisol, which, when chronically elevated, can lead to a range of detrimental effects on the skin.
One of the primary mechanisms through which stress causes premature aging is by breaking down collagen and elastin, the proteins responsible for skin elasticity and firmness. High cortisol levels can lead to the degradation of these vital structural components, resulting in the formation of fine lines, wrinkles, and sagging skin.
Additionally, stress can impair the skin’s natural barrier function, making it more susceptible to moisture loss, which can contribute to dryness, dullness, and an overall aged appearance. Therefore, it’s crucial not only to invest in skincare and opt for procedures such as CoolPeel treatment in Carmel, IN, or somewhere closer to you, in order to restore your skin’s youthful vigor but also to manage stress effectively through relaxation techniques and self-care practices.
Depression and Anxiety
There has been a previous study with mice that showed when they were subjected to a stressful situation and their brain activity was monitored, the immune cells in their brains were triggered.
From this, we can see how our immune cells and system can be affected by anxiety and depression.
Immune cells are part of the immune system to help fight infections and other diseases, so if we are having an issue with our mental health, then this study shows that it can also have an impact on our inflammatory response.
How Can Stress be Reduced?
As you are aware, stress can have a serious and detrimental effect on our bodies that can result in awful responses that can have a deep impact.
Because of this, we need to find ways that we can reduce that stress in our system so we are not opening ourselves up to these diseases and problems that could potentially shorten our lives.
Stress manifests in a variety of ways, including tense muscles that subsequently lead to other health issues like migraines and joint pains. For this reason, availing something like an asian massage in las vegas (if that’s where you live) can be a great first step to reducing your stress and anxiety. This kind of treatment can help ease the tension in your muscles and joints, promoting your overall sense of calmness and relaxation.
We will now go into how we can reduce stress in our everyday lives and how important that impact is if we are just able to take a little bit of time out each day to be calm.
Doing What you Like
Engaging in activities you love is a powerful strategy for stress reduction. Whether it’s immersing yourself in the strokes of a paintbrush, losing yourself in the melodies of music, or finding relaxation through the consumption of cannabis, these pursuits offer personalized avenues to unwind.
Painting provides a creative outlet, allowing you to express emotions visually. Music serves as a therapeutic escape, offering solace and rhythm to uplift your mood. For some, cannabis may offer a calming effect, promoting relaxation and stress relief. That is why, they may choose to eat gummies, apply topicals, or consider vaping (disposable vapes available at Juicy Vapes seem to be all the rage now). Whatever the choice, prioritizing activities that bring joy and relaxation not only provides a welcomed break from stress but also contributes to overall well-being, fostering a sense of balance and contentment in your life.
Doing Some Exercise
You don’t have to think about running and jumping around to reduce your stress, all you need to focus on is some gentle to moderate exercise to help your body get rid of that built-up feeling and free you of your stress.
You can start by going out for a walk either by yourself or with someone, and just breathe deeply as you walk.
This will help you remain focused and have you take in the area around you without having to engage your mind too much.
Tell yourself that you need to leave your worries at the door and just go for a walk.
Don’t think ahead about what you need to do next, just go for a walk and let your mind just be free, even if it is for a short amount of time.
Meeting Up With Friends
Your friends can help you a lot when you are feeling overwhelmed and need to just take a break.
Whether you go for a walk with them or you just face time them to vent, opening yourself up and letting it all spill out can help you greatly when you are feeling it all pile on you.
Just remember, they are not your therapist so you shouldn’t be unloading on them each time you see them, you need a licensed therapist for that.
Talk to them but don’t go overboard as it won’t help you or your friendships.
Write Down What You Are Thinking
This may not be what you had in mind, but writing down what you are feeling and how your emotions can help you bring it all out on the page will do great things for your mental health.
Take a moment at the end of the day or the start of the day, if you can, and just write down all that you are going through and what is going on in your mind.
You don’t need to have it be coherent or write in perfect sentences, you can just get it out there and take it out of your mind so you don’t have to have it following you around each and every day.
Conclusion
Stress and inflammation seem to go hand in hand, and whilst this is upsetting to hear, there are ways that it can be managed to benefit you in the long haul.
