How Does Stress Kill People?

All of us have a certain level of stress in our life because, it is necessary to carry out our daily routines. However, long-term stress can be a silent killer. During a stressful situation, the adrenal gland of our body secretes cortisol hormone, which is one of the stress hormones. This process raises the blood cortisol level.

Elevated cortisol level causes a few benefits in short-term.

Cortisol,

• Increases cognitive functions of the brain (specially, short-term memory)
• Helps the liver to eliminate waste products and toxins from the body
• Helps manage blood pressure
• Increases energy
• Increases immunity
• Reduces inflammation
• Reduces pain sensitivity
• Helps keep up the internal environment of the body stable (Homeostasis)

Chronic (long-term) stress leads to constant high blood cortisol level. This can cause several adverse effects and complications. Some of them may be fatal.

High blood cortisol causes obesity. It specially increases abdominal fat. Obesity raises the risk of ischaemic heart disease, hypertension, obstructive sleep apnoea, some cancers, diabetes mellitus, stroke, liver diseases, and gallbladder diseases.

In addition, constantly high cortisol levels can increase blood pressure and atherosclerosis. These are the risk factors of ischaemic heart disease, enlarged heart (cardiomegaly), heart failure, aneurysms, kidney diseases, and stroke.

Cortisol reduces the inflammatory responses and immunity. Therefore, long-term stress can cause increased risk of infections.

Although high blood cortisol improves the memory in short-term, it can impair cognitive functions of the brain and cause depression in long-term. Constant stress is one of the causes for suicide.

Persistently elevated cortisol levels also inhibit functions of the thyroid gland and raise blood sugar. These processes can result in diabetes mellitus. Diabetes increases the risk of developing stroke, ischaemic heart disease, kidney diseases (nephropathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), eye damages (retinopathy and cataract), some gastrointestinal problems, and skin diseases.


Related Links:

How to Manage Your Stress?
How Does Stress Increase Heart-Attack Risk?