Stress: The Nervous System & How This Normal Process Has Become A Leading Cause of Chronic Disease

In the modern age, stress is the word on everybody’s lips. Perhaps you’ve heard that “stress is the new smoking”. Well that’s because “stress” causes a complex cascade of effects that can have a negative impact on your body. Doctors and researchers alike are stress quoting as one of the main causes of disease and disorder. 

But stress is really such a broad term. Undoubtedly you have questions about what it actually means. How does it affect your body? And why would having stress be such a bad thing?

To understand this topic, we need to dive into a bit of physiology. 

Most people are familiar with the central nervous system containing the brain and spinal cord. The nerves that branch off the central nervous system into our muscles and organs determine our sensations, movement, and give feedback about the environment.

But there’s another branch of the nervous system constantly at work in the background. It’s called the autonomic nervous system (ANS). 

The ANS regulates automatic body processes, meaning we don’t have to think about it for them to work (i.e. blood pressure). Nerves from the ANS are found in the blood vessels, stomach, intestine, liver, kidneys, bladder, genitals, lungs, pupils, heart, and sweat, salivary, and digestive glands.

The ANS is broken down into two pieces: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). 

In a nutshell, the SNS is responsible for the “fight or flight” response to stress. Say, for example, you’re being chased by a bear. The SNS increases your heart rate, ramps up your blood pressure, shuts down digestion, widens your pupils, and shunts blood to the muscles - all so you can run away from that bear as quickly as possible. 

The  flip side of the SNS is the PNS. This system puts the breaks on the SNS and helps to calm things down. It’s commonly referred to as the “rest and digest” part of the autonomic nervous system. The PNS helps us to conserve energy and rebuild. 

These are both very natural processes which can be beneficial in the right setting. Where things go wrong, however, is when the scales tip too far in either direction.

Today, most of us struggle with “stress”. When I hear someone say they have high stress, I hear them say that they’re actually struggling with high amounts of SNS activation. You see, the SNS doesn’t discriminate. The SNS activates in response to an actual physical stressor (like a near-miss car accident) or in response to a perceived stressor (having to give a public presentation). 

I like this quote from Richard Lazarus about perceived stress: “stress is a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize.”

Here’s what happens every time your SNS is activated: 

• Blood pressure, heart rate and force of heart contraction increase

• Palms sweat, hair stands on end and pupils widen

• Fuel is preferentially sent to the muscles

• Non-essential life processes, such as digestion, urination, defecation, sexual function, and higher cognition are curtailed until the stressor has passed 

All of this happens through the release of several different chemicals. The pituitary gland releases ACTH, which activates the adrenal glands to produce cortisol. It also prompts the release of norepinephrine and epinephrine, also known as adrenaline. 

If the stressor is short, and you quickly recover, this is no big deal. But when stress becomes chronic health issues begin to mount.

In fact, a researcher named Hans Selye -  “the father of stress research” - characterized the chronic stress response in the early 20th century. He dubbed chronic stress as “general adaptation syndrome” and noted some pretty disturbing things with the rats he studied. At first, the rats subjected to a stressor were able to respond and recover, but with persistent stress directed their way, the rats eventually fell victim to exhaustion and sometimes death. 

Now consider the number of “stressors” you have in your life. It’s probably not far off from the constant onslaught of stressors placed on Selye’s rats, is it?

Since the SNS is chronically activated in general adaptation syndrome, any relaxation by the PNS function gets put on the backburner. Some conditions associated with an overactive SNS are:

• Digestive disorders such as indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)

• Erectile dysfunction (and other sexual dysfunction)

• Urinary retention

• Constipation 

• Anxiety and depression

• Heart diseases including heart attacks 

• Insomnia

• Chronic headaches 

Wow, that’s a long list! You can see why health care providers are so anxious (pardon the pun) to address stress in their patients. 

Over time, chronic stress literally eats away at the body. Cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephine are catabolic, meaning they signal the body to break things down in order to provide fuel for a mounting stress response. 

Again, this response is normal in small doses and is a good thing in those circumstances. But chronic stress leads to an impaired immune system, anxiety, cardiovascular dysfunction, digestive disorders and sexual difficulties. 

But stress isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. So how can we function without ramping up our stress response all the time? 

Enter Stress Management 

Researchers have been trying to answer the question of stress management for a long time. Currently, there are a few evidence-based methods for reducing stress recommended by the National Institutes for Health.

• Biofeedback

• Cognitive behavioral therapy

• Meditation

• Tai Chi

• Guided imagery 

• Deep breathing exercises 

If you think stress is playing a major role in your life and health,  don’t hesitate to address it. Any or all of these methods can work for you - it’s really just about finding the one you most resonate with. Start small, perhaps with just 5 minutes of deep breathing daily. You can always work up from there.

 If you are ready to get to the root cause of your health concerns, reach out to the EmpowerMed team of naturopathic doctors today. We take a collaborative approach to natural medicine, partnering with patients to help them achieve their unique health and wellness goals.

Contact us today at 760-456-7501 or use our booking link to schedule.

EmpowerMed Clinic is located just off the I-15 and Carroll Canyon within the Fitness Quest 10 Wellness Center of Scripps Ranch, San Diego County, CA. We serve the communities of North County San Diego, Poway, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch, Mira Mesa, Ramona, Scripps Ranch, Santee, and more.