Week 10 Discussion Stress and Physical Effects Responce # 1

Week 10 Discussion
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Week 10 Discussion: Stress and Physical Effects Response
Stress forms part of the leading health concerns across the world. Recent research on this phenomenon indicates that 51% of women and 43% of men in the US suffer adverse effects of chronic stress (Yaribeygi, Panahi, & Sahraei, 2017). If left untreated, these effects can result in the development of mental health issues, unhealthy coping habits, and chronic conditions such as diabetes (Harvard Health Publishing, 2018). It is worth to note that not all stress is severe and some stressors can be positive. Such events motivate people towards success and the realization of predetermined goals. Specific responses to dangerous situations such as increased brain function, heartbeat, and breath intake help people survive dangerous conditions (Kaplan, Madden, & Mijanovich, 2012). However, the consequences of chronic stress are much severe on the human body.
When confronted with stressful situations, the body produces a chemical reaction that facilitates injury prevention. During stress response, the heart rate heightens, blood pressure rise, muscles tighten, and breathing increases. Precisely, the body gets ready to act and protect individuals from harmful events. Muscles tense up when the body is stressed, and chronic stress results in them being in a constant state of guardedness (Yaribeygi et al., 2017). When they are tense for extended periods, they may trigger reactions that can facilitate the development of issues related to migraine headaches.

Aside from the musculoskeletal system, stress affects other body organs linked to the respiratory, reproduction, endocrine, cardiovascular, nervous. And gastrointestinal systems adversely. Also, stress hormones increase the heart’s pumping capacity (Legg, 2017). It pumps blood hastily so that it can reach the limbs and other vital organs. In the long-term, stress not only leads to a weakened immune system but also causes other issues such as stomachache, depression, insomnia, fertility complications, hypertension, and high levels of sugar in the blood.
References
Harvard Health Publishing. (2018). Understanding the stress response. Retrieved fromhttps://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/understanding-the-stress-response
Kaplan, A. S., Madden, P.V., Mijanovich, T., & Purcaro, E. (2012). The perception of stress and its impact on health in poor communities. Journal of Community Health, 38(1), 142-149.
Legg, T. (2017). The effects of stress on your body. Healthline. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-bodyYaribeygi, H., Panahi, Y., Sahraei, H., Johnstone, P.T., & Sahebkar, A. (2017). The impact of stress on body function: a review. EXCLI Journal, 16:1057-1072