Chronic Stress' Impact on Hormones

Medical Reviewed By Lucas Rosa

PhD in Molecular Biology

Stress is an important bodily function that happens naturally, but when it becomes chronic stress, it can wreak havoc on your hormones.

How Stress Can Become Chronic

When we encounter a stressful situation our hearts pound, our muscles tense, and our breathing quickens. When this happens our bodies have initiated the 'fight or flight' response. This stress response involves a cascade of physiological changes including the release of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. 

These hormones prepare your body to either confront or flee from a perceived threat. While this response is essential for survival, chronic activation of this response can lead to negative health effects. It becomes chronic whenever there is no relief from the stressor for an extended period of time. It will feel like there is constant pressure and you will feel constantly overwhelmed.

Chronic stress can come from all areas of life. Problems in the workplace, financial instability, an injury that affects daily life, and family issues are all examples of things that can lead to chronic stress.

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress, or distress, has a significantly negative impact your hormones.

It leads to chronic activation of the stress response which can lead to adrenal fatigue. The adrenal glands become overworked and are unable to function properly. This process disrupts the production of other hormones that rely on the adrenal glands like testosterone.

Chronic stress can affect the production of reproductive hormones, leading to menstrual irregularities in those assigned female at birth and reduced testosterone levels in those assigned male at birth. Also, it leads to elevated levels of cortisol and adrenaline which can lead to a variety of health issues.

Understanding and eliminating the sources of chronic stress is crucial for hormonal health. 

Cortisol

Cortisol, also known as the 'stress hormone', manages how your body responds to stress. It can trigger the release of sugar from your liver to for quick energy, and helps you stay on high alert.

This hormone is naturally produced in our bodies and also plays an important role in many other bodily functions.

It helps regulate blood pressure and blood sugar, reduce inflammation, regulate metabolism, and control the sleep-wake cycle. Cortisol is an essential hormone for our bodies, but prolonged high levels of cortisol can lead to a variety of health issues.

Prolonged high levels of cortisol are usually caused by chronic stress and can lead to weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and a weakened immune system. It's essential to understand this dual nature of cortisol. It is an important hormone, but chronic stress can cause this hormone to negatively affect our bodies.

Adrenaline

Adrenaline is another natural hormone that is used in the 'fight or flight' response. It helps you react to exciting, stressful, and dangerous situations. Adrenaline has a powerful effect on our bodies and you feel the effect in minutes.

It makes us breathe more efficiently, makes our brain more alert, and raises our blood sugar levels to give us more energy whenever we are in stressful situations. Additionally, adrenaline makes you feel less pain so that you can keep going for longer. These temporary effects of adrenaline allow us to perform better in stressful situations. 

Adrenaline is an important hormone for our bodies, but chronic stress can cause us to have high levels of adrenaline for extended periods of time. Having prolonged high levels of adrenaline can cause high blood pressure, weight loss, anxiety, and an increased risk of heart attack.

Managing Chronic Stress

Managing chronic stress effectively is key to maintaining and promoting healthy hormones.

Chronic stress management techniques:

• Mindfulness
• Meditation
• Prayer
• Regular Exercise
• Time Management
• Emotional Support From Loved Ones
• A Healthy Diet
• Adequate Sleep
• Engaging In Joyful Hobbies
• Getting a Therapist or Counselor

If these techniques are not helping, or if the symptoms of chronic stress worsen, consider seeking help from a healthcare provider.

Conclusion

Understanding the relationship between chronic stress and hormones is crucial for maintaining good overall health. While some stress is inevitable, managing it effectively can prevent long-term health issues and support hormonal balance.

Healthy lifestyle practices and being mindful of stress triggers will promote hormonal health and improve your quality of life.

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