The 6 stress hormones and their effects on the body

These are the types of hormones that most influence our response to stressful situations.

There are different ways in which a person can respond to a stressful situation, since this is a subjective and personal response that will depend on how the person perceives and experiences the situation.

However, there are a series of physiological processes and reactions common to all people. These reactions are triggered by a series of effects produced by the hormones related to stress..

What is stress?

When a person experiences a state of tension and anxiety during a period of continuous time is experiencing what is known as stress. This state can originate a whole range of physical affections as well as an annoying feeling of heaviness in the person who suffers from it.

Therefore, the two main characteristics of stress states are as follows:

• Psychological origin of stressThe psychological origin of stress, whereby an element perceived as stressful by the person induces a series of changes in physical and organic activity.
• Intervention of the different stress-related hormones, which are responsible for these changes.which are responsible for these physical alterations.

These hormones are released from the brain to every corner of our body, causing, as mentioned, a large number of physical and physiological changes.

Hormonal alterations

The main structure related to stress states and stress responses is the neuroendocrine systemwhich is activated by the occurrence of stressful events or situations, accelerating the functioning of the adrenal glands.

This activation provokes a series of chain reactions in which the different hormones, cortisol being the hormone with more weight within these reactions and which alters to a greater extent the body functioning.

However, there are several hormones involved in stress processes, which are affected by the action of cortisol.

Stress-related hormones

As mentioned above, the hormones involved in the stress response act on other hormones by modifying their action on the body.

1. Cortisol

Cortisol has established itself as the quintessential stress hormone.. The reason is that the body, under stressful or emergency circumstances, produces and releases large amounts of this hormone, which serves as a trigger to respond to the situation quickly and skillfully.

In normal circumstances, the energy generated by our body is directed to execute the different is directed to execute the different metabolic tasks that maintain the balance of body functions. that maintain the balance of bodily functions. However, when a stressful event occurs, the brain generates a series of signals that travel to the adrenal glands, which begin to release large amounts of cortisol.

Once cortisol is released, it is responsible for the discharge of glucose. is responsible for the release of glucose into the bloodstream.. The glucose generates a large amount of energy in the muscles, which can move faster and provide a much more immediate response to the stimulus. When the stressor disappears, cortisol levels are restored and the body returns to normal.

This response is not at all harmful to the person, as long as it is not maintained over time. When this occurs, symptoms caused by hormonal dysregulation begin to appear. Among these symptoms are

• Irritability
• Mood swings
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Palpitations
• Hypertension
• Low appetite
• Gastric disorders
• Muscle pain
• Cramps

2. Glucagon

The hormone glucagon is synthesized by the cells of the pancreas and its main focus of action is on carbohydrate metabolism. is centered on the metabolism of carbohydrates..

The main task of this hormone is to allow the liver to release glucose when our body needs it, either because of a stressful situation in order to activate the muscles or because Blood glucose levels are low.

In an emergency or stressful situation, the pancreas releases large doses of glucagon into the bloodstream to charge our body with energy. This hormonal imbalance, although helpful in threatening situations can be dangerous in people suffering from any type of diabetes..

3. Prolactin

Although this hormone is known for its involvement in the secretion of milk during the lactation period, prolactin levels can be seriously affected by stressful situations that are prolonged over time, and can even lead to hyperprolactinemia..

As its name suggests, hyperprolactinemia refers to an increase in prolactin levels in the blood. This increased presence of prolactin in the blood inhibits, by different mechanisms, the release of hypothalamic hormones responsible for estrogen synthesis.

As a consequence, the inhibition of female sex hormones leads to a reduction of estrogens in women, menstrual alterations and even lack of ovulation, even lack of ovulation..

4. Sex hormones

Under stressful circumstances, the sex hormones known as testosterone, estrogens and progesterone are disturbed in their normal functioning.

Testosterone and stress

Testosterone, the male sex hormone in its own right, is responsible for the development of male sexual characteristics as well as sexual response.

When a person experiences high levels of stress over long periods of time, testosterone production decreases, testosterone production decreasesThe body prioritizes the release of other hormones such as cortisol, which are more useful in stressful or dangerous situations.

As a result of this prolonged subjection to the effects of testosterone inhibition, the person may experience sexual problems such as impotenceerectile dysfunction or lack of sexual desire.

Other symptoms linked to the reduction of testosterone levels are:

• Mood swings.
• Fatigue and constant tiredness.
• Problems falling asleep and insomnia.

4.2. Estrogens

As mentioned above, high levels of stress decrease the release of estrogens, disturbing the normal sexual functioning of women.

However, the correspondence between estrogens and stress, the correspondence between estrogens and stress occurs in a bidirectional fashion. Thus, the effects of stress contribute to the reduction of estrogen levels and at the same time estrogens exert a protective function against the effects of stress.

4.3. Progesterone

Progesterone is produced in the ovaries and among its many functions is that of adjusting the menstrual cycle and intervening in the effects of estrogensThe purpose of progesterone is to prevent estrogens from exceeding their stimulation of cell growth.

When a woman is subjected to stressful situations or contexts for a long time, the production of progesterone decreases, causing a great number of effects and symptoms such as extreme fatigue, weight gain, headaches, mood alterations and lack of sexual desire.

Conclusion: a link between psychology and physiology

The existence of stress hormones shows the extent to which the endocrine system is linked to our mental states and behavioral styles. The release of one or another type of hormone is capable of producing measurable changes both in the neurobiological dynamics of the organism and in the frequency of occurrence of certain actions.

Thus, we note once again that the separation between physiological and psychological processes is an illusion, something that we use to understand the complex reality of how the body functions. to understand the complex reality of the functioning of the human being, but which does not necessarily correspond to the reality of the human being.This is something that we use to understand the complex reality of human functioning, but which does not necessarily correspond to a boundary that is naturally present in the biology of our bodies.