Stress, tension or strain is something that one experiences in daily life due to work or personal problem. It is a medical condition that results in various chemical responses in the brain. Under normal circumstances stress is usually a temporary condition that one experiences for a few hours. However, if it persists and lasts longer then it can cause psychological and physical problems. Stress can affect your brain in a negative way resulting in serious consequences that can affect your memory.
When one is undergoing stress, the blood circulation is affected that can affect the vital organs. This is due to the secretion of various chemicals by the brain when one is feeling stress. In case of psychological or physical stress, nerve signaling takes place from to pituitary and adrenal glands. In return these glands release a combination of endorphins, adrenalin, cortisol, dopamine, and noradrenalin. These hormones prove to increase the tightness of one’s muscles and heightening of awareness, etc. While these symptoms prove to be beneficial in case of physical stress, it actually has an adverse effect on body and brain over a prolonged period, especially cortisol that can damage brain cells after prolonged exposure.
Harmful effects of the cortisol
• Hippocampus is the element which is responsible for controlling one’s episodic memory. Cortisol leads to breaking of the cells in the hippocampus which is harmful.
• Brain ages prematurely due to excess cortisol.
• Cortisol usually proves helpful in overcoming actual threats that the body faces. However, in the event that one suffers from chronic stress, the effect of cortisol in the blood stream can be harmful.
• One would be surprised to know that cortisol actually increases ones chances of getting into depression. This is due to the fact that it suppresses the hormones which provide the “feel good” factor. Serotonin and few other good hormones subside.
It’s therefore important to take measures that help reduce or overcome stress to preserve ones mental and physical health.
