Effects Stress Plays on the Body (Research Paper Sample)

Effects Stress Plays on the Body
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EFFECTS STRESS PLAYS ON THE BODY
Stress that is caused due to different factors that affect the body can be long-term or short-term. There are various hormones that are released in the body and all act differently. The hypothalamus functions by sending signals when the body senses stress to the adrenal medulla that then releases epinephrine or anterior pituitary to release ACTH. When you are in a short-term stress situation, and your body perceives the stress, the epinephrine and norepinephrine are released so that they can prepare the body for a response to the stressing situation. The energy that is provided to the body to react when there is a stressing situation is from norepinephrine and epinephrine.
The energy that is provided stimulates the body to break down glycogen into glucose. The glucose that has been formed leads to the increase of the heart beat rate and the dilating of the bronchioles. It is when that the body gets into the fight or flight mode to response to the stress that it is facing. In response to the short-term stress, the endocrine system has unique properties that ensure the body’s internal environment remains stable. Homeostasis is disrupted by stressors that act as a stimulus.
The vertebrate autonomic nervous system through time has evolved the fight or flight response so that the body can counter stress-induced that disrupts homeostasis. When the body senses stress the sympathetic nervous system then stimulates the energy levels in the body cell to increase the breakdown of glycogen into glucose. The blood glucose levels increase thus supplying the energy to the different parts of the body to prepare it for physical activity that will be mandatory in response to the stress (Andreescu, S., & Hepel, M. 2011).
The physical activities that may take place maybe to either flee from danger or to fight for survival. It is the epinephrine and the norepinephrine that is released by the adrenal medulla that prepares the body to fight or flee a threat by breaking down the glycogen that is stored in the body. The immediate boost of energy is as a result of the glucose that has been formed by the breaking down of the glycogen. In a situation that isstressful, the body responds by sending signals to the hormones that handle the provision of a burst of energy.
The adrenal medulla then releases the adrenaline hormone and the noradrenaline hormone. The liver together with the skeletal muscle is stimulated by the epinephrine and norepinephrine to break down the glycogen by the way of stimulating glucose release by the liver cells. When the heart rate increases, it is one way of the hormones to increase oxygen availability to the cells. The increase in heart beat rate means that there is an increased flow of blood supply to essential organs, such as the skeletal muscles, the brain, and heart.
The hormones at this point only allow the organs with an immediate need to receive the increased supply of blood while the other organs such as the digestive system, skin, and the kidneys are restricted. As a Christian when you are in such kind of a situation it is better to let God be in control and see you through the trials that you are experiencing. Stress can be a huge factor in making your body not to be stable which can result in bad habits that may not be in line with what God requires.
By trusting in God, the body can handle the stress that is thrown at it by the stressing situation that it is experiencing. God is the one who created me in his image and therefore He is in control of the entire situation that my body is undergoing. As a Christian, I should trust in the power of the Almighty to see me through and help in redeeming my body from stress (Koslowsky, M., Kluger, A., & Reich, M. 1995).
In cases where there is long-term stress like illness or injury, the body has to depend on another source of energy. The glycogen that is broken down into glucose cannot meet the long-term energy needs when the body is experiencing stress. The glycogen will be exhausted after several hours, and if it were the only source of energy, the body would be rendered to the mercy of the stressing situation.
When glycogen is depleted the neural function cannot be maintained because it has a high demand for glucose. The body has evolved so that it can counter the long-term stress through the glucocorticoids. To ensure that the body has enough energy glucocorticoids are used to produce the energy that will ensure the required amounts of energy are met.
Glucocorticoids that stimulate gluconeogenesis mobilizes lipid and protein reserves and in the processed glucose is conserved for use by neutral tissue. Glucocorticoids also stimulate the conservation of salt and water. When the body is experiencing long-term stress, other hormones come into play because the energy that is mediated by epinephrine and norepinephrine cannot sustain the body. In long-term stress response, the anterior pituitary gland is triggered by the hypothalamus to release ACTH. The ACTH stimulates adrenal cortex to release steroid hormones known as corticosteroids.
The steroid hormone corticosteroids act on the nuclei of target cells by turning on the transcription of certain genes. The enzyme concentration in the cytoplasm is changed which inturn affects cellular metabolism. The concentration of enzyme in the cytoplasm is changed which affects cellular metabolism (Grossman, S., & Porth, C.M. (2013).
Main corticosteroids are mineralocorticoids and glucocorticoids.Fats are broken down into fatty acids in the adipose tissues is targeted by these hormones. ATP production then occurs when fatty acids are released into the bloodstream,and it is other tissues that use it in the production.
Glucose metabolism is primarily affected by glucocorticoids when it stimulates glucose synthesis.Inflammatory properties that glucocorticoids have occurred through the inhibition of the immune system.The water balance in the body, when you are experiencing a long-term stress, is controlled by the function of mineralocorticoids. The aldosterone hormone stimulates the reabsorption of sodium ions and water in the kidney.Inflammation is an example of adisease that is associated with long-term stress where the body tissues are responding to a harmful situation. It is a response that the body cell takesso that they can eliminate the cause of cell injury. It occurs so that the process to initiate tissue repair can take place.
Inflammation is one way that the hormones respond to a stressful situation that the body cells experience. The body therefore carefully monitors the inflammation to ensure that it does not lead to a host of diseases. The initial, response by the body to harmful stress or stimuli is known as acute inflammation. Inflammation is a defensive strategy that the body uses to fight infections and the damaged area.
If the stress that caused the inflammation is continuous it will then lead to the release of certain hormones that can increase the likelihood of contracting certain diseases. The endocrine system is then mandated to ensure that the hormones that it is regulating deal with the stress that the body is experiencing.
Stress has a wide that it plays on the body; it is the endocrine system that will regulate the hormones that control stress.Cardiovascular and respiratory system are affected by the stress hormones. When your body senses stress the breathing becomes fast, this is an effort to ensure that oxygen is supplied quickly to the essential body parts. Stress will affect the blood vessels by making them constrict so that the blood pressure can be raised.
The pressure will help to circulate the blood faster to the brain and other essential parts of the body. When you are frequently experiencing stress, your heart will work hard to ensure that it counters the stress though the constant supply of blood. The heart working hard to pump blood is a recipe for the risk of hypertension and other problems that may affect your heart and the blood vessels. Having a heart attack will be easy since the heart is overworked, you can even have astroke. When the body is experiencing a stressing situation the central nervous is in charge of "flight or fight" response. It tells the body what it should do when in the stressing situation.
The hypothalamus in the brain will then tell the adrenal glands to release cortisol and adrenaline. When the stressor is gone, the central nervous system is supposed to restore the body back to normal if it fails then the stressor does not go away.When the stressor takes a toll on your body, you start developing behaviors where you take alcohol and abuse drugs, or you startto overeat.
As a Christian, I should not let chronic stress lead into development of some behaviors that do not please God. I should instead turn to Him to help me through the trying times so that I can emerge victoriously. It is through the blood of Jesus that I can get healed from the chronic stress and be with the strength that will ensure I avoid taking drugs to deal with my stress.
It will be unfortunate for a child of God to engage in behaviors that do not please the creator, and if I lean on the shoulders of Christ,all the burdens of stress will be shoved off.As a child of God, it is paramount to observe His laws so that I will always fall in His favor in the world.
Christians should not despair in times of stress because in strength there is a purpose. Chronic stress can cause suffering that is beyond our imaginations, but it is only through believes in the Creator of the heavens and earth that we can overcome. Medication can help in treating the chronic stress, but God is the ultimate healer, without His intervention even the medication will not restore our bodies to normality...