Among the relationship between the brain and body is that of the immune system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, according to J. Hilgert and colleagues in April 2006 in the "Journal of Dental Research". Specifically, it is known that any type of stress triggers the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, or adrenal glands, to release the hormone called cortisol, which can lead to poor health outcomes such as dental disease, as the researchers note.
Mechanism
When a person experiences psychological stress, cortisol and other hormones released into the blood stream produce what is called the "flight-or-flight" response which raises blood pressure, heart rate and blood sugar, as explained by Kathleen Head and Gregory Kelly in June 2009 in the "Alternative Medicine Review". This is an adaptive alerting mechanism to help humans and animals cope with threats in the environment, as Head and Kelly note.
Causes
The adrenal glands can be stressed by many things. Among the contributing factors are calorie restriction, sleep deprivation, surgery, excessive exercise and various mental states, according to Head and Kelly.
Outcomes
The physiological outcomes of stress include heart disease, a challenged immune system and digestive problems, as cited by Head and Kelly. They also note that there is a large amount of evidence showing that it has an effect on cancer as well. Specifically, stress is known to reduce the amount of natural killer cells that protect the body from cancer.
Considerations
The effects of stress on the adrenal glands can persist long after the event that triggered the stress. Specifically, studies have shown that the natural sleep cycles of military soldiers subjected to high-stress training did not return to normal even after a five-day rest period, according to Head and Kelly. Therefore, chronic stress should be reduced so that health is not negatively impacted.
Self-Help
Mindfulness is a meditation technique that can be used to help reduce cortisol release by the adrenal glands, according to Rose Matousek and colleagues in 2009 in "Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice". Mindfulness meditation is a determined focus on the present moment without judging present thoughts and feelings. Similarly, other relaxing practices such as yoga and Tai Chi have also proved to help reduce stress, as Matousek and colleagues note.
References
- "Journal of Dental Research"; Stress, Cortisol, and Periodontitis in a Population Aged 50 Years and Over; J.B. Hilgert et al.; April 2006
- "Alternative Medicine Review"; Nutrients and Botanicals for Treatment of Stress: Adrenal Fatigue, Neurotransmitter Imbalance, Anxiety, and Restless Sleep; Kathleen A. Head, Gregory S. Kelly; June 2009
- "Complimentary Therapies in Clinical Practice"; Cortisol as a marker for improvement in mindfulness-based stress reduction; Rose H. Matousek, Patricia L. Dobkin , & Jens Pruessner; 2009
