There has been much written on the topic of stress, and how to cope with it, but much less on the function of stress in the maintenance of life, and how modern life has turned this protective mechanism against us. Let’s begin here, shall we.
Stress is a normal aspect of life. So normal in fact that our bodies have developed impressive machinery designed specifically for the experience of stress. It is helpful to remind ourselves that the modern living experience is extremely new to our body, and especially to our mind. Not too long ago were we human beings living in small communal villages by the sea, hunting and gathering foods, squatting in the fields, climbing trees, diving in deep waters, and running away from predators. These are the activities that our bodies have evolved to master, and over millions of years, we have developed the body and mind that is able to survive and thrive in the world of Mother Nature. Enter the Industrial Revolution.
Well, this alleged Brave New World of luxury, comforts, and ownership not only brought many benefits, but it also brought with it many things that our minds and bodies are currently struggling to adapt to. Arguably the most significant and persistent of these new “things” is “chronic stress."
Although most of us understand what stress is, a mild understanding of human physiology can help us appreciate the significance of chronic stress in the development of modern disease. Therefore, let us briefly go over the human stress response.
Stress Physiology 101
Parasympathetic vs. Sympathetic
We human's have a nervous system who's function, although complex, can be reduced to two distinct operating modes that hinge on the topic of stress. They are the parasympathetic or the "rest and digest" mode, and the sympathetic or “fight or flight” mode (and I like to add “freeze” to that list since playing dead or “fainting" is an established response to extreme amounts of stress).
These modes of operation were designed by Mother Nature to promote survival, and reproduction of the species—these being the most basic goals of all living organisms. When absent of stress, the body engages the process of growth by focusing energies on digestion, detoxification, immune surveillance, and cellular repair and reproduction. When under stress, the body diverts energy away from the aforementioned, and towards physiologic mechanisms that prepare the body to escape danger.
The Stress Response
Much of the stress response is initiated by communication from the brain (hypothalamus) to the adrenal glands along what is known as the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis (HPA axis). Communication along the HPA axis stimulates the release of stress hormones (epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol) that set in action a series of physiologic responses that shunt blood away from digestive organs, and towards skeletal muscles thereby increasing the potential of physically escaping a perceived threat. The stress chemistry enacted increases our heart rate, respiratory rate, and liberates glucose storage in order to provide ample fuel for the anticipated chase that would have typically ensued from a real live threat. In addition to this, neurologically, we shunt blood away from the prefrontal cortex which is the seat of our thinking brain and towards the primitive brain which is the seat of our reflexes, and survival mechanisms. This is why many of us will make silly, half-witted mistakes and have trouble forming a complete thought when under stress and duress.
What’s the Balance?
Now, both of the above states of the nervous system are necessary for the survival and proliferation of the human species; hence their dominant role in the way we live and experience life. However, the body is designed to be predominantly in parasympathetic mode, resting, digesting, and reproducing, as opposed to sympathetic mode running away from the proverbial saber-toothed tiger. The stress response is designed for acute situations only. That means, our bodies are NOT designed to be under continual stress, day-in, day-out. If that were the case, based on how our body is currently designed, we would never be able to digest foods, get restorative sleep, have enjoyable sex, and develop plans with our thinking brain. Rather, our physiology suggests that the stress response is designed to escape short-term danger such as being chased by a predator. We would run for a period of time, jumping, climbing, swimming, in an attempt to evade the predator, but then, eventually, the chase would be over and we would rest.
The Modern Living Experience/Experiment
The modern living experience/experiment is one of chronic stress. We are living the proverbial Hunger Games, except we’re not hungry due to scarcity, but rather because we cannot digest our food for fear that we may fall behind schedule; fail to pay rent or the mortgage; be laid off from our job; loose our Fantasy league; or not impress the peers enough to be accepted into their social group. These are the modern saber-toothed tigers, and they do not tire easily like the real prehistoric animal. They keep coming, and coming, and coming. There’s nowhere to hide.
Now that we understand how this works, we can begin to hypothesize what the damaging effects of chronic stress might be. Let us consider a few main points of interest namely, digestion, glucose regulation, and immune function.
Chronic Stress and Digestion--not a happy couple
First and foremost, when we are under stress, our digestion is severely impacted. Digestion slows to a crawl if not to a complete stop. Subsequent to incomplete digestion, we begin passing undigested foods down lower in the gut causing all kinds of digestive mayhem. We begin to experience gas and bloating, maybe some abdominal cramping, certainly some diarrhea and/or constipation. Eventually we’re diagnosed with leaky-gut, dysbiosis, hypochlorhydria, IBS, gallbladder disfunction, pancreatic insufficiency, you name it. Not fun, but a daily reality for a huge population of Americans.
Chronic Stress and Blood Sugar Regulation
Secondly, under chronic stress we have a tendency to develop glucose imbalances. The chief of the stress hormone clan is Cortisol. Cortisol's primary function in the stress response is to liberate glucose storage for use by skeletal muscle, enabling you to have ample energy to escape danger. When we are continually juicing our adrenal glands all-day-long with worries, bouts of fear, and anxiety, we are continually liberating glucose into the blood stream. Consider it equal to sucking on a lollipop all day long. There is a continuous supply of glucose entering the blood stream which is why, most do not feel hungry when under significant stress. In fact, this plays a role in perpetuating glucose disregulation by throwing off regular eating patterns, initiating moments of hypoglycemia, and stimulating sugar cravings and other habits that further imbalance sugar levels in the blood. Ultimately, If you don't feel hungry due to surging cortisol levels, you don’t eat, and eventually you become malnourished causing even more imbalances in the body leading to diabetes, obesity, brain fog, fatigue, osteoporosis, and other hormone imbalances.
Chronic Stress and Immune Function
Thirdly, when under chronic stress, the immune system is inhibited. When under attack, whether that be a physical reality, or a mental reality that is played over and over in the mind, the body does not spend energy in trying to protect itself from little microbes. The rationale is this: If the body does not escape the perceived threat, what’s the use of protecting itself from microbes? The saber-tooth tiger is a greater threat and so, spending energy trying to escape it is the best energy investment.
Now many people come to me claiming that they are healthy because they NEVER get sick. Some people say with great pride “I haven’t been sick in 10 years!” Well, this phenomenon can have two origins; 1) the person lives in a bubble and has never been exposed to the external world; or 2) the person has been under significant stress over the past 10 years and therefore has a low functioning immune system that has not the energy to mount a response to invading pathogens. My guess is the latter is true for 99% of the population that “has not been sick in years.”
It should be understood that when you get sick, the symptoms you experience are not the pathogen’s doing. Rather, the fever, the headache, the coughing, the runny nose, etc. is all due to your immune system reacting to the pathogen. In the process of restoring balance to your internal environment, your immune system creates the symptoms that makes you miserable. This is a product of a healthy immune response. Strangely, it is a good thing! On the other hand, if you experience illness too frequently, this can be a sign of a different type of imbalance that will be reserved for a future discussion.
The Take Home Message
Now that we understand how chronic stress effects the body, it should motivate you to seek out solutions to your stress patterns. Human beings are not designed to endure chronic stress. The steps towards health and wellbeing MUST include a thorough stress management plan. Without it, you are missing the boat. You can eat all the organic super foods that you can handle; drink bone broth daily; be on the most intense nutrient supplementation protocol; exercise daily; and go to yoga class every morning; but if you do not find ways to decrease and eliminate stress from your day, and establish more ways to get deep into the parasympathetic mode of living, you are on your way towards chronic disease. Do not fall victim to the modern living nightmare. Claim your peace, and begin to take control of your health, now!
Message from Dr. Elijah McCarthy
If you need help with designing a healthy lifestyle that is tailored for YOU, consider booking an appointment ASAP. Lifestyle management is at the core of my training and serves as the foundation to all of my individualize treatment plans for all of my patients. Whether you are in Southern California, out of state, or abroad, there is a way to get started in our therapeutic strategies. I offer home visits, telemedicine, and in office visits on a daily basis.
