At Holistic Rising we care about the well-being and health of our clients. Stress has a very detrimental effect on the body both physiologically and emotionally. Whilst in today's society stress can seldom be avoided in order to remain a competitive edge across the market and competitors, it can be balanced and maintained with awareness to manage long term effect.
Musculoskeletal system
When the body is stressed, muscles tense up. Muscle tension is almost a reflex reaction to stress—the body’s way of guarding against injury and pain. With sudden onset stress, the muscles tense up all at once, and then release their tension when the stress passes. Chronic stress causes the muscles in the body to be in a more or less constant state of guardedness.
Cardiovascular system
The heart and blood vessels comprise the two elements of the cardiovascular system. Acute stress causes an increase in heart rate and stronger contractions of the heart muscle. Chronic stress, or a constant stress experienced over a prolonged period of time, can contribute to long-term problems for heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk for hypertension, heart attack, or stroke.
Digestive System
Stress is associated with changes in gut bacteria which in turn can influence mood. Early life stress can change the development of the nervous system as well as how the body reacts to stress.
- Esophagus: Stress or exhaustion can increase the severity of heartburn pain.
- Stomach: Stress may make pain, bloating, nausea, and other stomach discomfort felt more easily.
- Bowel: Stress can affect how quickly food moves through the body, causing diarrhea or constipation.
Stress and health
Glucocorticoids, including cortisol, are important for regulating the immune system. Chronic stress can result in impaired communication between the immune system and the HPA axis. This impaired communication has been linked to the future development of numerous physical and mental health conditions, including chronic fatigue, metabolic disorders, depression, and immune disorders.