The 6 Stress Hormones And Their Effects On The Body
There are various ways in which a person can respond to a stressful situation, since this constitutes a subjective and personal response that will depend on how the person perceives and experiences said situation.
However, there are a series of physiological processes and reactions common to all people. These reactions are triggered by a series of effects produced by stress-related hormones
When a person experiences a state of tension and anxiety over a continuous period of time You are experiencing what is known as stress. This state can cause a whole range of physical conditions as well as an annoying feeling of heaviness in the person who suffers from it.
Therefore, the two main characteristics of stress states are:
These hormones are released from the brain to every corner of our body, causing, as mentioned, a large number of physical and physiological changes.
Hormonal alterations
The main structure related to stress states and responses is the neuroendocrine system which is activated when stressful events or situations appear, accelerating the functioning of the adrenal glands.
This activation causes a series of chain reaction in which the different hormones, cortisol being the hormone with the most weight within these reactions and which alters the body’s functioning to a greater extent.
However, there are various hormones involved in stress processes, which are affected by the action of cortisol.
Hormones related to stress
As mentioned above, the hormones involved in the stress response act on other hormones, modifying their action on the body.
Cortisol has established itself as the stress hormone par excellence The reason is that the body, when faced with stressful or emergency circumstances, produces and releases large amounts of this hormone, which serves as a trigger to respond to said situation quickly and skillfully.
Under normal circumstances, the energy generated by our body It is aimed at executing the different metabolic tasks that maintain the balance of bodily functions. However, when a stressful event occurs, the brain generates a series of signals that travel to the adrenal glands, which begin to release large amounts of cortisol.
Once cortisol is released, it is responsible for the discharge of glucose into the blood Glucose generates a large amount of energy in the muscles, which can move more quickly and offer a much more immediate response to the stimulus. When the stressor disappears, cortisol levels are restored and the body returns to normal.
This response is not at all harmful to the person, as long as it is not maintained over time. When this happens, symptoms caused by hormonal deregulation begin to appear. Among these symptoms are:
2. Glucagon
The hormone called glucagon is synthesized by the cells of the pancreas and its main focus of action focuses on carbohydrate metabolism
The main purpose of this hormone is to allow the liver to release glucose at times when our body needs it, either due to a stressful situation with the aim of activating the muscles or because blood glucose levels are low.
In an emergency or stress situation, the pancreas releases large doses of glucagon into the bloodstream to charge our body with energy. This hormonal imbalance, although useful in threatening situations It can be dangerous in people who suffer from some type of diabetes
Although this hormone is known for its involvement in milk secretion during the lactation period, prolactin levels can be seriously affected by prolonged stress situations. causing hyperprolactinemia
As its name indicates, hyperprolactinemia refers to an increase in prolactin levels in the blood. This greater presence of prolactin in the blood inhibits, through different mechanisms, the release of hypothalamic hormones responsible for the synthesis of estrogens.
As a consequence, the inhibition of female sex hormones in women leads to a reduction in estrogen, menstrual disorders and, even lack of ovulation
4. Sex hormones
Under stressful circumstances, the normal functioning of the sex hormones known as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone is disturbed.
4.1. Testosterone and stress
Testosterone, a male sex hormone in its own right, is responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics, as well as sexual response.
When a person experiences high levels of stress for long periods of time, testosterone production decreases since the body prioritizes the release of other hormones such as cortisol, which are more useful in situations of stress or danger.
As a result of this prolonged submission to the effects of testosterone inhibition, the person may experience sexual problems such as impotence erectile dysfunction or lack of sexual desire.
Other symptoms linked to reduced testosterone levels are:
4.2. Estrogens
As mentioned above, high levels of stress decrease the release of estrogen, disrupting a woman’s normal sexual functioning.
Nevertheless, the correspondence between estrogen and stress occurs bidirectionally So the effects of stress contribute to the reduction of estrogen levels and at the same time they exert a protective function against the effects of stress.
Progesterone is made in the ovaries and among its many functions is to adjust the menstrual cycle and intervene in the effects of estrogen with the purpose of these not exceeding their stimulation of cell growth.
When a woman is subjected to stressful situations or contexts for a long time, the production of progesterone decreases, causing a large number of effects and symptoms such as extreme fatigue, weight gain, headaches, changes in mood and lack of sexual desire.
Conclusion: a link between psychology and physiology
The existence of stress hormones shows the extent to which the endocrine system is linked to our mental states and our behavioral styles. The release of one or another type of hormone is capable of producing measurable changes both in the neurobiological dynamics of the organism and in the frequency of occurrence of certain actions.
Thus, we confirm once again that the separation between physiological and psychological processes is an illusion, something that we use to understand the complex reality of human functioning but that does not necessarily correspond to a boundary naturally present in the biology of our bodies.
