The Stress Reponse
The stress response, or "flight-fight" response, is one of the most critical responses in the body. It is absolutely vital in our bodies, and without it we would not survive very long. The stress response is under the fine control of the nervous system, and impacts just about every other system in the body. This includes the digestive system, the cardio-vascular system, the immune system, the reproductive system, the endocrine system and more.
Recognise, Respond, Recover
We can break the acute stress response into 3 simple phases. Recognise, Respond and Recover. Failure of any of these phases to occur will have dyer consequences and will put our health or even our lives at risk.
It is vital to realise that, within the human body, it is the nervous system that controls and co-ordinates the physiology in response to stress.
Recognise
- Recognition of a stressful or potentially stressful event/situation primes the body to respond in the most appropriate way. This is also known as the alert phase of the fight/flight mechanism.
Respond
- In the response phase it is all systems go to fight off the danger or to escape from it. Here the changes are all instant and vital to enhance the chance of survival.
Recover
- It is also crucial that the changes in the body return to normal levels once the stressful situation or event has been removed.
Acute stress
Acute stress means stress that is short-lived. This is what most stress responses should be.
When you think about a normal stressful event, it will usually be over fairly quickly. If you are faced with a lion chasing you, you will choose to fight him or run. Either way it will not last very long. You will escape, or be dinner!
Our bodies are designed to recognise stressful events, to respond appropriately and to recover quickly once the stress has passed. This acute fight/flight response is a normal physiological response and has been functioning well for a very long time.
The following changes need to occur in the body in order for us to fight or flee.
We are also not equipped to handle long-term or chronic stress. It is this chronic stress that is so common and that is having a devastating impact on our health and the health of our communities. With chronic stress there is little to no time for the recovery phase to occur. The results are devastating:
- Blood pressure remains high - not by mistake but by necessity
- Heart rate remains high
- Cardiac output (blood pumping from heart) remains high
- Blood clotting factors (platelets) remain high
- Cholesterol levels remain increased
- Muscle tension remains high
- Logical thinking, immune system, organ function and fine motor control all suffer
None of these things happen by mistake but as a result of the constant stress we place ourselves under. The nervous system is intelligent and always responds appropriately to the environment it perceives it is in.
It paints a somewhat bleak picture of what we see in society. Imagine the load on the cardiovascular system with these things remaining high all the time. Is it any wonder why heart disease and stroke are 2 of the leading causes of death in Australia?