There are consequences that come from forcing your body to work in the prolonged state of emergency a stressful lifestyle produces. Long-term stress can result in overworked adrenals that are too compromised to perform their function. It's important to learn about the body's stress response and how you can reduce your stress in order to protect the health of your adrenals.
Stress Response
The body's sympathetic nervous system is designed to help you quickly react and respond to dangerous situations. This response, commonly referred to as "fight or flight," is felt in various physical symptoms such as a faster respiratory rate and clammy, pale skin. These symptoms come from a number of different mechanisms in the body that help prepare you to physically address the threat you're facing.
Adrenal Glands
The adrenal glands secrete hormones. The glands sit on top of the kidneys and are directly stimulated by nerves from the sympathetic nervous system. In response to this stimulation, the adrenal produces epinephrine and norepinephrine. These hormones enter the bloodstream and produce increased rate and force of heart contractions, constriction of peripheral blood vessels, pupil dilation and bronchiole dilation. These all are designed to give your body what it needs to either fight the threat or run from it.
Short-Term Stress
Although the stress we face on a daily basis is generally less than life-or-death stresses, the body still employs these basic mechanisms to help us function. Short-term stress, such as the anxiety you might experience when speaking in public, is normal and subsides. In theory, the body eventually returns to normal.
Adrenal Fatigue
In situations where individuals live with chronic stress, the adrenals are forced to function and secrete hormones at a much higher and constant rate rather than subsiding with the threat. The adrenal glands and the body's stress response were not designed to function on a relatively constant basis, so they become fatigued. Instead of being healthy and able to function normally, the overworked adrenals have difficulty performing their usual tasks due to constant stimulation.
Healthy Coping
The alternative to this unhealthy stressful lifestyle is learning to cope appropriately with stress. It's not possible to remove some sources of stress, such as tight finances, but it is possible to learn to respond in a healthy way. Deep breathing techniques, exercise and positive thinking are all wholesome coping mechanisms that will help you maintain healthy adrenal glands.
