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Stress is perceived via the brain and sent to three specific parts of the body :

• The 'action' muscles, arm and legs muscles for example
• The vital organs like the heart, lungs etc.
• The glands and parts of the brain responsible for altering the biochemistry within the body.

In this way, the body prepares for the classic 'fight or flight' reponse to a situation. The muscles are primed for fighting or running. The heart beats faster to supply blood, oxygen and energy to the body. The glands, notably the adrenal glands produce adrenline, a sort of 'turbo boost' for the body in a stressful situation.

This response is said to have evolved during the time when mankind had to fight to protect his territory or possessions or run from dangerous animals or foe. The response has stayed with man in the modern age but does not work as well when the stressful incidents are internal and chronic rather than external and intermittent. So how does this stress affect the health ?

Stress affects people in different ways

Stress affects everyone in different ways so it is impossible to give a definitive list of health complaints due to stress.

However, for sudden stressful events typical symptoms are :

• a rise in blood presure
• tension headaches
• shallow breathing
• tightening of muscles, for example the clenching of a jaw or fists is a telltale sign.

For chronic, persistent and unrelieved stress the affects on health are far more serious.

Typical symptoms include :

• Heart disease is common in people under high and continued stress. This stress is just as likely to be mental and emotional as it is to be physical stress. Strokes and artery clogging are also thought to be caused by stress.
• Lowering of the immune system which leads to increased chances of catching flu, colds and other infections. It is thought that the white blood cells that defend the body against these infections are reduced in people that undergo prolonged stress.
• Gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea, constipation, stomach cramps and irritable bowel syndrome are all thought to be caused and aggravated by high levels of stress.
• Sexual function can be affected. In men this might be due to a restriction of blood flow which might cause temporary impotence. In women it could be a loss of sexual desire, PMS symptoms can be heightened and in some cases of high stress menstruation may stop.
• Brain functions can be reduced or diminished by high levels of stress. Hence a persons ability to concentrate on things can be affected. They cn suffer from memory loss nd find learning difficult.
  Sleeping patterns can be severely disrupted or insomnia.
• Other symptoms include increased insulin resistance, blood clots due to changed consistency of blood, joint pain and tension headaches.

As you can see the symptoms can be varied and can be a combination or all of the above so it is extremely hard to combat prolonged and chronic stress.
The secret to dealing with this stress before it gets to the stage of no return is to be aware of the changes in the body. The body responds to stress in ways listed above. By reacting to this change and altering your behaviour to limit the stressful events you can reduce the chances of serious health complications occurring.

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