General adaptation syndrome
Stress is a common occurrence in the life of human beings since it’s unable to remove every single stressor from one’s life. However, it is a condition that is manageable to avert the effects of stress like mental fatigue, irritability, and insomnia. Many people are aware of the physical effects of stress but unaware of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS) (Alexandrov, 2019). When one understands the different stages of stress and how their bodies respond to them, it is easy to identify signs of chronic stress in them.
GAS, as developed by Hans Selye, a medical doctor, and researcher, explains the three stages of psychological changes that the body goes under stress. (1) Alarm reaction Stage- this stage involves the initial symptoms that the body exhibit while under stress. (2) Resistance Stage-this stage involves the rejuvenation of the body after the fight or flight in the initial stage. (3) Exhaustion stage happens after t prolonged chronic stress, which drains a person’s physical, emotional, and mental resources. It is the last stage and exhibited in terms of fatigue, burn out, depression, among others.
Some of the known effects of stress include migraines and heart diseases. According to scientists, Stress emotions cause the levels of certain molecules and hormones to rise, which triggers migraines in some people. On the other hand, cortisol released during the stress periods increases blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and pressure, which science has closely connected to heart diseases due to due to the buildup of plaque deposits in the arteries (Wahbeh & Oken, 2013). Scientifically, these conditions are attributed to the cortisol released in the blood due to stress. As such, there are a number of lifestyle modifications that can act as a treatment to these conditions. (1) This includes lowering stress. (2) Eating a good diet (3) Sleeping well. (4) Relaxation techniques like (5) Taking hobbies, (6) Exercising, (7) Maintaining a good bedtime routine, among others. Other medical conditions related to stress include Aging acceleration, Alzheimer’s disease, gastrointestinal problems, and Asthma.
References
Wahbeh, H., & Oken, B. (2013). Salivary Cortisol Lower in Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26(2), 241-248. doi: 10.1002/jts.21798
Alexandrov, M. (2019). Indicators of Dental Status as the Reference Test System the General Adaptation Syndrome. Online Journal of Dentistry & Oral Health, 2(1). doi: 10.33552/ojdoh.2019.02.000527