About Stress
Stress is a physical and psychological reaction to a threatening situation. The threat can be intangible, like the threat of losing a job, or tangible, like the threat of physical violence. Stress is a normal part of everyday life, and a certain amount of stress is actually healthy. In the short term, stress acts as a motivator by helping us to recognize and move out of unhealthy situations. For example, job stress may motivate someone to find another job or delegate some of her workload. Once the threat has passed, the stress goes away and our bodies return to normal. In the long term, however, stress can actually cause physical and even psychological damage.
Effects of Stress
Stress activates the fight-or-flight response, where the adrenal glands release the hormones cortisol and adrenaline into the blood stream. Cortisol stimulates the liver to release sugar into the blood for quick energy. Adrenaline causes the blood vessels to constrict, increases breathing and heart rate, and shuts down the digestive system.
The purpose of the fight-or-flight response is to enable us to eliminate the threat so that we can return to a balanced state. The fight-or-flight response is very physically demanding, and the body is not designed to be in this state for long periods of time.
In modern times, most of the threats we encounter are not physical and cannot be easily eliminated--we can't run away from job stress the way our ancestors could flee a mastodon. As a result, we are more likely to spend months and even years in fight-or-flight. Over time, the constricted blood vessels and increased can lead to hypertension, cardiovascular disease. Erratic blood sugar levels can lead to overeating and weigh gain and increased risk of diabetes. The digestive effects of stress can lead to GERD, ulcers and other digestive problems. People under persistent stress are also at greater risk for depression.
Stress and Erectile Dysfunction
Stress is a contributing factor for hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and depression--all of which are in turn contributing factors for erectile dysfunction. Additionally, the penis needs an ample blood supply in order to achieve an erection. Stress constricts the blood vessels in the extremities, including the penis, preventing adequate blood flow. Even short-term stress may affect sexual functioning because the body is not designed to perform sexually while fighting or running away. However, in the case of short-term stress, the body should be able to respond sexually once the stress is gone. With long-term stress, once the stress has passed, the patient may have to treat any remaining stress-related diseases in order to restore sexual function.
