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Chronic Stress On The Body Essay

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The physical effects of stress on the body are tremendous. Chronic stress along with acute stress have long term effects that if gone untreated can lead to death. The systems affected in the body are the muscles, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive system (Nelson, 107). Understanding the physiological effects stress has on the body better prepares a person to deal with stress.
Scientific research has confirmed that the different types of stress leads to long-term health problems. There are two types of stress; acute and chronic. Acute stress is temporary and “in the moment”, it causes the fight or flight response in the body. For example, narrowly avoiding a car accident, being stuck in traffic, …show more content…

This type of stress is dangerous and leads to severe health problems such as heart disease, high cholesterol, and major depression (Acute vs. Chronic Stress). Chronic stress affects nearly all the systems in the body. In the musculoskeletal system, the muscles are in a constant state of tension. This ongoing strain on the muscles causes tension-headaches and migraines. In the cardiovascular system, continuous rise in blood pressure and increase in heart rate eventually causes a heart attack or a stroke. The nervous system is largely impacted by chronic stress. When the body is undergoing acute stress, the sympathetic nervous system sends signals from the brain to physically react; this is also known as the fight or flight response. When these signals react, the heart rate and respiratory rate increases, blood vessels in the arms and legs enlarge, and glucose levels in the bloodstream increase (Stress Effects on the Body). Although acute in nature, prolonged exposure to this physiological effect on the nervous systems causes severe problems in other areas of the body.
Recognizing the signs of acute stress can greatly reduce major health problems in the future. Awareness of these signs can also prevent chronic stress. Understanding how stress affects the body will help someone to use coping measures to avoid further stress on the body and lead a healthier

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