Every day, you are exposed to different events that lead to different stress levels. However, some stress can be good because it signals your body to create the “fight or flight” signal and prepares you to react or respond to the situation. But when the brain keeps sending the stress signal, your body system may be exposed to different health dangers due to continuous exposure to stress.

In this scenario that your body won’t stop sending the stress signals. It is in a feedback look. You are exposed to chronic stress and may experience symptoms that take a toll on your general well-being. Examples of such symptoms include anxiety, headaches, and irritations. See how stress can affect your body systems.

5 Body Systems Damaged By Brain Stressors

Central Nervous System

Your central nervous system is responsible for creating the “fight or flight” response. This results from being exposed to an emergency. As a result, your body releases stress hormones that beat up your body system to react appropriately to emergencies. This releases enough blood to organs that need it in this situation.

But stress may set in when the regarded fear disappears, and your body’s central nervous system doesn’t go back to its normal state. This may lead to various behaviors such as anxiety, headaches, overeating or social withdrawal.

Respiratory System

There is a high possibility of stroke or heart attack when exposed to chronic stress. Your respiratory and cardiovascular systems hyperfunction when your body releases stress hormones. As a result, your breathing is rapid to distribute oxygenated blood throughout the body. This may cause a serious problem if you are asthmatic. Likewise, your heart pumps faster and harder, which may cause hypertension or a heart attack.

Immune System

Exposure to stress stimulates your immune system to react appropriately to immediate situations. But exposure to chronic stress can weaken its capabilities. As a result, it may take longer for wounds heal and more difficult to fight against foreign bodies and infections. When under chronic stress, you are susceptible to diseases such as the common cold.

Muscular System

Your muscles build up for every emergency situation you face to help you in such situations. But constant exposure to these situations tightens muscles which then do not relax. As a result, you may have headaches, joint or shoulder pain. This might force you to resort to seeking medications for pain relief.

Digestive System

Your entire digestive system will get disrupted with exposure to constant stress. This may cause an increase in your chances of getting type 2 diabetes because your liver cannot keep up with glucose production. Likewise, you may have heartburn or ulcers because of digestive system tissue breakdown or increased acid production.

Take away

Although stress can play an important part in making us healthy, it can also cause serious damage to our body systems if not checked or regulated. You can’t prevent your body from stress exposure because it translates stress for itself. However,  you can control your response by being mindful.

Thus, you should pay attention to that and become more self-aware. Self-awareness is key to understanding what triggers stress reactions in your body, and it can help to put everything under control.