Features Of The Operation Of Allostatic Load

Allostatic load is known as a state of the human body which manifests after being exposed to a stressor and that triggers a series of internal processes. In other words, if the human being cannot recover his state of balance, or homeostasis, after being subjected to stress, then he is exposed to allostatic load.

Faced with this situation, the organism has the tendency to adapt to the external and internal changes that it may experience or that happen around it. Thus, when the body tries to recover from a stressful situation, but cannot because the stressor is still active, the body becomes accustomed to living with this overload. In this way, a new state of balance is generated in which the ability to withstand stress is lower

In this sense, with the state of balance altered, a stressful situation that previously had little effect can now provoke a much stronger reaction.

Allostatic load manifests itself in various ways in the body. Next, we will show you the main effects of allostatic load:

• Cardiovascular level: The impact of allostatic load is reflected in the appearance of diseases that affect the heart. In turn, it can encourage heart attacks and alterations in the cardiovascular system.
• Brain level: Allostasis can bring consequences such as chronic stress, increased cortisol levels and incoherent thoughts, among others. In this case, in this article we tell you how to lower cortisol.
• psychological level: There are certain mental disorders that can manifest due to exposure to allostatic load. Among them, depression, anxiety disorders, certain eating difficulties and sleep deregulation, among others, stand out.

When some of these effects appear, it is necessary to go to the doctor to be evaluated by a specialized health professional.

There are different types of allostatic overload. It is important to make a precise distinction to learn to recognize what problem we are facing in each case. For this reason, we are going to show you what the different types of allostatic load are:

1. First level of allostatic load: arises when a stressor appears in a specific situation. When stress levels increase in this specific context, the body produces a response that can produce unfavorable consequences for itself.
2. Second level of allostatic load: Stressors remain active for a longer time. Unlike the first type, the prolonged duration of stressors produces alterations in the nervous system. In this article you will see in detail how stress affects the nervous system.
3. Third level of allostatic load: Stressors do not cease their effect at any time, so the allostatic load rises permanently. In these cases, it is difficult to reduce its effects.
4. Fourth level of allostatic load: arises when the body’s responses to stress are deficient. In these cases, the body tries to compensate for the lack of response by activating other sectors not linked to stress management. However, this causes more serious physical alterations.

As can be seen, the difference between the types of allostatic load lies in the intensity and durability of each of them.

As you can see, allostatic load can have detrimental effects on the body. For this reason, it is essential to have methods to reduce it. In this section we will explain how to reduce your allostatic load:

• Physical exercise: It has been shown that doing some physical activity reduces stress and/or anxiety levels, since they release chemical substances that relax the body.
• Psychological therapy: Talking to a mental health professional about the concerns that cause stress helps reduce its effects, as possible solutions to the stressors are found. In this article you will find examples of psychological techniques to remove stress.
• Healthy nutrition: Ingesting nutrients that relax the central nervous system reduces allostatic load. In this sense, it is advisable to go to a specialized professional to carry out a healthy diet adjusted to the needs of each person.
• Recreational activities: Having time for yourself, outside of daily obligations, is very beneficial for the body and mind. Habits such as reading, writing or social gatherings help reduce allostasis.

To better understand this problem, we have compiled some examples of allostatic load:

• Dismissal from work: a man goes to work every day. One day he arrives at his office and his boss tells him that he has been fired due to a staff reduction. This situation produces a very high level of stress that the body will try to compensate in some way. However, this situation will leave a high level of allostatic load that will need to be reduced in some way to avoid health problems.
• I work in the police: A woman works in the police and conducts interviews with detained people on a daily basis. This type of work produces a sustained allostatic load over time, since the stress levels to which it is subjected are high for a long time. It should be noted that talking to detained people can give rise to anxiety, fear or anguish, among other symptoms.

This article is merely informative, at PsychologyFor we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.

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