Many consider stress only as a bad phenomenon, but things are not so simple as it is a natural reaction. In a situation that we consider threatening, our body is put on high alert.

"A reaction is triggered in our brain," explains Ralf Suhr, president of the Berlin-based Foundation for Health Literature, a non-profit organization whose goal is to enable people to make informed health decisions.

Signaling molecules called stress hormones, such as noradrenaline, adrenaline and cortisol, are released into the bloodstream. Energy reserves are put to work and the organism becomes more alert and able to react faster.

Such a state, in which the organism chooses to fight, flee or paralyze itself, was vital to our prehistoric ancestors when, for example, they were suddenly confronted by a beast.

In modern times, the causes of stress are family or financial problems, a constant squeeze on time or sensory overload in a fast-paced and digitally connected world, leaving the body with insufficient opportunities to recover. normal.

Chronic stress weighs down the immune system and makes us more susceptible to infections. In addition, people under stress adopt unhealthy habits such as smoking, not getting enough sleep, or binge eating unhealthy foods.

What is the impact of stress on certain body systems?

1. Gastrointestinal tract

Stress can result in indigestion, even from foods that we normally tolerate well, and "this makes many people prone to diarrhea," reveals psychiatrist Mazda Adli at the Fliedner Clinic Berlin and head of the Department of Research on Affective Disorders at the University Hospital Charité.

Chronic stress can also make the bowels sluggish, decrease appetite, lead to heartburn or worse, irritable bowel syndrome, says Adli.

2. Cardiovascular system

Acute stress increases heart rate and blood pressure, and chronic stress can lead to health conditions such as chronic high blood pressure.

"Cardiac arrhythmias are also possible," warns Adli. Chronic stress is also a factor in heart attack and stroke, and the risk increases with the unhealthy habits we adopt, such as smoking.

3. Musculature

Stress can result in muscle tension. The neck muscles can tighten to the extent that they make it difficult to move the neck and head, and back pain also appears. All this potentially leads to an uneven distribution of weight in the musculoskeletal system with painful consequences such as lumbago or intervertebral disc herniation.

4. Metabolism

Stress is thought to be a possible cause of metabolic disorders such as type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol.

"Because it feels threatened, the body under stress puts into operation more energy reserves, both sugar and fat", explains Adli. "At the same time, stress hormones promote insulin resistance, raising blood sugar levels.

In addition, the stress hormone cortisol causes the body to constantly replenish its stores of sugar and fat, which can result in more energy being available than it needs.

Excess sugar and fat can contribute to the accumulation of harmful belly fat, restrict blood flow, strain blood vessels and cause metabolic disorders.

5. Mental health

"The brain, and therefore the psyche, is very sensitive to chronic stress," says Adli. A constant state of vigilance leads to mental illness, and "the most well-known mental complication of stress is depression," she warns.

In addition, the increased release of cortisol into the bloodstream can have a negative effect on concentration, and constant stress can cause memory problems. Since stress is usually associated with anxiety, it can also cause anxiety and panic attacks in the long term.

If you think you are chronically stressed, you need to change something. A good start is to take regular breaks during the day. These should include short mindfulness exercises, such as focusing on the breath. Regular exercise also helps.

To get rid of stress it is important to change behavior patterns. Cultivating friendships and engaging in hobbies are helpful.

"All these efforts not only promote mental relaxation and positive emotions, but also directly silence the sounds of our body's constant biological alarm," concludes Adli.