INDICATORS OF STRESS-HORMONAL,

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL

Submitted To Submitted by
Jisha Shekar
Riya Jose
SB22PSY057
B.Sc. Psychology
Indicators of stress – Hormonal, Physiological
and Anatomical
Introduction
Stress is a condition of tension and anxiety that leads to various changes and discomfort in the
individual experiencing it. In 2000, Bruce McEwen defined stress as a real or imagined threat to an
individual’s physiological or psychological integrity that results in a physical or behavioural response.
In medical terms, stress is a situation in which circulating levels of glucocorticoids and
catecholamines rise. To understand the effects of stress, we must remember that our body
experiences a lack of harmony in homeostasis when we experience prolonged stress. Thus,
homeostasis is an essential concept for understanding stress and its hormonal implication. This
concept refers to the idea that the body has an ideal oxygen level in the blood and a preferred
temperature range.

Hormonal indicators of stress.

The main component of the stress response is the neuroendocrine system, especially the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. In the face of stressful events (or events interpreted as
stressors), the sympathetic nervous system is activated, which immediately starts the adrenal glands
of the neuroendocrine system.

This activation stimulates the release of vasopressin in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. These
substances stimulate the pituitary to release another hormone, corticotropin, into the body.
Corticotropin then induces glucocorticoids, including cortisol, from the adrenal cortex.

Thus, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis releases more glucocorticoids in response to stress.

Therefore, cortisol is the principal stress hormone. Stress also alters glucagon, prolactin, and
reproductive hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and growth-related hormones.

The main stress hormones

Cortisol
Cortisol is the quintessential stress hormone because the body manufactures it in emergencies to
help us cope with problems and respond quickly and effectively. When we are stressed, the release
of cortisol is triggered. In normal situations (without stress), the cells of our body use 90% of their
energy in metabolic activities such as repair, renewal, or the formation of new cells.
Glucagon
Glucagon is a hormone produced by the pancreatic cells that affect how we metabolize carbs. Its
primary purpose is to enable the liver to release stored glucose and restore the body’s supply when
it gets low. Glucagon plays a different role than insulin. When blood glucose levels are too high,
insulin lowers them; when blood glucose levels are too low, glucagon raises them.

Prolactin
Prolactin is a hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland in the brain responsible for
stimulating women’s milk secretion during lactation. Thus, when a woman is in the lactation period,
she can produce milk by releasing estrogen. However, cases of high stress can cause
hyperprolactinemia.

Sex hormones
Three sex hormones—estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—also function differently under
stress.

Estrogens
Stress reduces the synthesis of estrogens, which can alter the sexual functioning of women. However,
the relationship between estrogen and stress is bidirectional; that is, stress can reduce the creation

Progesterone
Progesterone is an ovary hormone responsible for regulating women’s menstrual cycle. It also
controls the effects of estrogens, but in turn, estrogens may constitute a hormone that protects
against stress.

Testosterone
Testosterone is the male sex hormone that allows the growth of reproductive tissue in men.
It also enables the development of secondary sexual characteristics such as facial and body
hair or sexual erections. When a person suffers stress regularly, testosterone levels decrease
as the body chooses to invert its energy into producing other hormones, such as cortisol.

Physiological and Anatomical Indicators of

Stress
Fatigue
Many people suffer from fatigue, which can be attributed to stress. Stress-related fatigue can
stem from many factors, including too little sleep, burnout, overworking, anxiety, and

anxiety .
Poor Sleep
Sleep plays an essential role in human homeostasis (i.e., stable bodily functioning )
Stress can have a significant impact on sleep quality. Insomnia related to stress may pass
after a few days but can be debilitating when it is chronic.5 The good news is that insomnia
can be managed with healthy lifestyle practices.

Headaches
Most people can say they get headaches occasionally, but when headaches are chronic, that
could be concerning. Chronic headaches are something to check out and speak to a doctor
about to ensure they aren't a sign of an underlying condition. Commonly, headaches are a
cause of stress.
Stress can predispose to the onset of a headache disorder,7 and increase the likelihood of
developing chronic headaches or exacerbating headache symptoms.
The most common headaches are tension headaches and migraines, both of which are
associated with stress. Tension headaches may feel like a tightness in the head muscles,
whereas migraines can present with a variety of symptoms, including throbbing pain in one
area. About one billion people suffer from migraines.

Heart Palpitations
When experiencing heart palpitations, it feels as if your heart is pounding or beating fast,
somewhat like a fluttering sensation in your chest. These may be occurring because of
stress. stressors are often associated with an increase in sympathetic cardiac control, a
decrease in parasympathetic control, or both.
These changes in cardiac control can result in altered heart rates and the experience of heart
palpitations.

Abdominal Pain
Researchers believe stress's link to the gastrointestinal system is its biological interference
with appetite and the digestive system's functioning.1 This can result in gastrointestinal (GI)
issues, like gas or constipation, that causes abdominal pain and cramps. Stress can interfere
with the stomach's inflammatory responses, increasing GI inflammation and altering the
movement of the GI tract, triggering conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). It can
also affect how the body manages acid, which is why stress can trigger acid production.
Muscle Pain
Everyone experiences muscle pain, especially after a workout, when overcoming an injury, or
combating viral infection. However, muscle pain can also be attributed to stress. Stress can
lead to chronic muscle tension, contributing to pain.
Stress can exacerbate physiological symptoms in chronic conditions of the muscles, like
fibromyalgia, which is a condition that causes muscle tenderness, joint stiffness, muscle
aches, and fatigue.

Weakened Immune System

When experiencing chronic stress, you may find yourself getting sick frequently. Stress can
have a significant impact on the immune system's functioning. Within the past few decades,
researchers have taken an interest in stress's effects on the immune system. Those with
greater degree of stress develop a weaker immune system, making them more likely to
experience illnesses.

Neck pain
Muscle tension is one of the first physical manifestations of stress, and it tends to be most
pronounced at the base of the head.

Nausea
Whether a knot in your stomach or straight up nausea, stress can have a wide range of GI
consequences. That's because digestion is often disrupted and slowed down when your
nervous system is trying to cope with stress.

Hair loss
Hair loss is more likely to be the product of really long sustained periods of high levels of
stress, Typically, one isolated stressful situation isn't going to make your hair start falling out.
But experiencing a life-altering event, like a death of a loved one or a huge career change,
can actually cause your hair to stop growing temporarily as your body dedicates its efforts to
to surviving said event.

Insomnia
When you're feeling super worried and having a tough time shutting down your mind,
chances are you'll also have some issues falling asleep at night.

Irregular period
Too much cortisol can interfere with the sex hormones that regulate ovulation and make
your period irregular.

Psychological Problems that may be caused by stress in our

life:
Depression, pessimism, distress and melancholic feelings, lack of caring
Irritability, hyperactivity, pacing, impatience, restlessness
Anger, table-pounding
Nervous mannerisms, tics, facial, finger tapping, drumming
Speech difficulties–stuttering, stammering, halting
Tiredness–boredom, low energy state, inefficiency, fatigue
Lack of concentration, loss of memory, confusion, disorganization
Passivity, lack of assertiveness
Difficulty making decisions, immobility
Being late, being too early (being on time)
Self-consciousness, constant awareness of others’ responses or reactions
Rigidity, inability to change or be flexible.
Feeling overwhelmed, not in control.

Conclusion

Stress is a major concern for individuals and organizations. Exhaustion is the outcome of
prolonged stress. Individuals and organizations can take many approaches to lessening the
negative health and work outcomes associated with being overstressed. Emotions play a role in
organizational life. Understanding these emotions helps individuals to manage them. Emotional
labour can be taxing on individuals, while emotional intelligence may help individuals cope with
the emotional demands of their jobs.