StressWomen these days are living extremely stressful lives as they try to balance home life, work, relationships and children, leaving little time for self-care. Chronic stress can manifest in many ways - some people have difficulty sleeping, while others are chronically fatigued or have anxiety or depression. When we feel intense stress or fear, a hormone called adrenalin is secreted from the adrenal glands, which are situated above the kidneys. Our heart beats faster, our blood pressure rises and our muscles tense up. At the same time, our breathing quickens and blood sugar levels rise to provide us with instant energy. This is what is known as the ‘fight or flight’ response, and signals that our body perceives danger and is getting ready to deal with it. Adrenal Hormones The adrenals also release another hormone called cortisol to assist this natural physiological reaction to stress. This hormone also increases heart rate, blood sugar levels, blood pressure and constricts the arteries. Cortisol is longer acting in the body than adrenaline. This inbuilt prehistoric response to stress was never designed to occur over long periods of time. Cortisol has negative effects when too much is produced through the day in response to stress. The problem is that in our modern lives, factors such as job pressures and emotional ups and downs sometimes cause us to live in a state of stress for long periods. Everyone reacts to stress differently and has a different tolerance level. The way that stress manifests in your body depends on your genetic make-up, diet and exercise routine and physical surroundings.
Chronic stress often leads to adrenal fatigue, even exhaustion, which is associated with debilitating fatigue and weight gain. This could be why you may feel tired most days. Adrenal exhaustion often leads to poor blood sugar control, cravings and binge eating, as you try to pick up your energy levels.
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