how does stress make us have physical reactions? If I’m worried about something how does it cause cardiovascular reactions or a rash?
In: Chemistry
stress responses are part of the “fight or flight” response. When your brain feels threatened, it tells the body to prepare to fight or run away, even if there’s actually nothing to fight or run away from. Its very useful if you get attacked by a bear. Not as useful if you have a math test.
When you are stressed out, your brain tells your adrenal gland to make stress hormones (epinephrine, norepinephrine, cortisol, aldosterone).
The stress hormones go into your bloodstream, and they tell the rest of your body to prepare for a fight. So your heart beats faster, your blood vessels constrict which makes your blood pressure rise, your blood sugar rises (to fuel your muscles), your muscles get tense, you sweat more.
Rashes are a bit more complicated. Some of those hormones (like cortisol) suppress the immune system. we actually use cortisol to treat rashes (we call it “hydrocortisone” when it’s used that way). So it’s not cortisol that’s to blame.
The stress response can cause the release of something called “histamine”, which causes allergic reactions and inflammation. to explain that, I’d have to aim higher than a 5 year old would understand.
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