Stress and Illness

Stress and Illness

Stress and illness happen to everyone however how a person reacts to that stress and illness plays a direct role in the body function. In society people know that stress and illness is part of everyday life but people do not know how it happens or what the real effects to the body is. When a person is stress the body will produce hormones such as epinephrine and in time of instantly stress happens this can be a good thing because the epinephrine has the ability to give a person great strength and endurance. Epinephrine will speed up the heart, increase blood flow to the brain and other muscles, decrease digestion tract movement, increase muscle tension, and increase respiratory to bring more oxygen into your muscle (eHealth MD, 2012). However, when stress is a constant it can wear the body down and decrease the immune system and in some cases have serious effects on the brain and body such as the cardiovascular system, and can cause mental illness such as depression. Epinephrine is produce by the adrenal medulla and is responsible for the fight or flight response (Goodenough & McGuire, 2012). Another hormone that is related to stress and illness is cortisol. Cortisol is produce in the adrenal cortex and is responsible for the increase production of glucose that makes a person seem that he or she is hungry. Also this hormones decrease the inflammatory response so if a person is ill and the body is slow if not responsive to render aid to the area (Mayo Clinic, 2010). The react to stress and illness in different way whether the body perceives it to be real or not. People can have emotional stress and become agitated or moody. A person can become overwhelmed and gain weight or lose weight. Some of the physical sign of stress and illness is low energy, headaches, stomach issue such as diarrhea or constipation. Also with the muscle showing aches, pains and tension in the muscle due to the electric and chemical