We are acutely aware of the physical response to stressful situations; the faster heart-beat, sweating and shallow breathing. There are other signs to recognise, the effects of long term stress.

Muscle tension, headaches, irritability, skin rashes, poor digestion and insomnia are all warning signs that should not be ignored.

But why do we react in these ways? The following provides the underlying physiological reasoning.

Warning signs

The following are signals, telling us we have started to move away from what we can comfortably cope with. They suggest we have gone past our threshold. Too much time spent beyond our individual threshold can ultimately lead to ill health. It is important that we take notice of this and act positively. The Stress Management section and Lifestyle Magazine provide insight on how to control your anxiety.

Itchy skin and rashes - conditions such as eczema and dermatitis worsen or are initiated by stress as blood is diverted away from the skin towards the vital organs, exacerbating existing allergies and rashes. It can also trigger the release of histamine, the chemical implicated in causing allergic reactions.

Headaches and migraine - stress is a recognised trigger of migraines, causing the swelling of blood vessels that supply the brain, resulting in throbbing headaches. Initially, blood vessels in the section of the brain that control vision, constrict, resulting in the visual aura. They then dilate, producing pain. It is not fully understood how triggers such as stress, fatigue and alcohol cause the initial swelling of blood vessels.

Indigestion - the gastrointestinal tract, through its autonomic nerve supply, is closely related to brain centres concerned with expression of emotion. This, in addition to our resources being diverted from digestion during times of emotional tension, shows how stress can contribute to diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as dyspepsia and ulcers. Dyspepsia covers any symptom associated with ingestion of food e.g. nausea, heartburn, distension, indigestion.

Hair loss - restriction of blood to the scalp caused by narrowing arteries. Blood is diverted from the scalp for action in response to alarming stimuli. Stress alters the absorption of certain trace elements and amino acids essential for hair growth. High stress levels can increase levels of the hormone prolactin in women and this appears to influence the uptake of testosterone and its metabolism. In individuals susceptible to hair loss, this can lead to thinning.

Palpitations - when under stress, and if your body lacks essential nutrients, brain chemistry malfunctions and the immune system is impaired. In such conditions, certain foods and drinks have an adverse chemical reaction in the body and may cause panic attacks and palpitations.

Cravings - stress puts pressure on all metabolic systems. Under these circumstances, the body tries to regulate itself, which can be temporarily achieved by eating the food you crave. An existing desire is intensified.

Skin condition - adrenaline can upset the balance of other hormones in the body, making acne worse and causing flushes. Long-term stress slows the production of collagen and elastin fibres which give the skin its elasticity, resulting in sagging. The healing process and ability to bounce back slow with age.

Accidents - a spate of minor injuries, cuts and bruises, of which you have no memory. More seriously, many road accidents can be attributed to stress. The rush of endorphins released during such trauma masks associated pain. The survival mechanism of blood thickening due to adrenaline-release minimises bleeding.

Muscle twitching - especially of eyelids, the last body part to relax. During stress, we do not breathe properly and the waste product lactic acid is not carried away efficiently, thereby accumulating and causing muscle spasms.

Ringing in the ears - stress can trigger the ear to send an abnormal stream of impulses, which the brain interprets as tinnitus.

The psychological reaction

It is invaluable to recognise how you feel and behave when you start to let stress take hold. Recognise the signs early enough and you can adjust quickly to avoid surpassing your threshold.

The Stress message board is an interactive area of the site where you can share your advice and experiences with fellow readers.

03/06/2009