Why is stress bad for you?
In: Biology
Chronically elevated levels of cortisol in the bloodstream (such as those associated with chronic stress) have been shown to impair cognitive performance, suppress thyroid function, and promote hyperglycemia (high blood sugar).
Cortisol is a hormone. Hormones are molecules with great power in the body. Unlike most other molecules or chemicals, cortisol has many sites of action as the body evolved to use hormones to coordinate processes that require synchrony. Cortisol is mostly associated with the processes involved in metabolism as it promotes the availability of glucose by increasing the amount that is in the bloodstream. When normal systems are stimulated beyond what is tolerable (for example, chronically elevated blood sugar), pathology can occur (diabetes).
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