Author: L. Edward
When the human body first experiences stress adrenaline takes
over and causes a chain-reaction within the nervous system. The
heart begins to beat faster, the sizes of the body's blood
vessels are changed, and the body actually prepares itself for a
frightening or emotional event. Even though the humans that are
in existence today aren't in constant physical danger from wild
predators as our pre-historic ancestors were, we still
experience this familiar fight-or-flight reaction due to a great
deal of different types of stressors.
There are two main types of stress experienced by humans,
either chronic or that which is emergency-induced. The chronic
type of stress can be particularly harmful to the brain because
of hormones and chemicals referred to as glucocorticoids or
GC's. When the body experiences a rush of adrenaline which is
accompanied by stress, a portion of our brain called the adrenal
cortex begins to release these GC's which are useful for dealing
with the emergency-type of stressors.
Chemicals such as cortisol, hydrocortisone, and corticosterone
act together to increase the production of glucose, constrict
blood vessels and essentially help our brains deal with or
regulate stress. The GC's tell our brain either to calm down or
to boost its levels of awareness and reaction in order to deal
with the issue at hand. These glucocorticoids also affect memory
functioning, especially in the hippocampus region of the brain.
While the GC's may help us remember frightening or stressful
events so that we are better able to deal with them in the
future, they can also be harmful to the delicate neurons of the
brain. Prolonged periods of stress or depression may actually
lead to the damage or even the death of certain neurons,
especially those within the memory center of the brain.
It's important to remember that different people react
differently to stressors; one person may be able to move on from
a trying event while another may suffer from serious
psychological effects from a similar event or situation.
Learning if your stress is chronic or acute is critical for
counteracting the negative affects it has on the brain. Those
people who are prone to anger, anxiety, depression, and who
suffer from low self-esteem are far more likely to experience
damage to the brain than their calmer, more relaxed peers.
Most every one of us experiences bouts of depression or periods
of "the blues" at some point in our lives, but a person who is
constantly angry or depressed may require medical or
professional assistance. While it may be possible to recover
from depression through various means such as drug therapy or
counseling, the long-term affects on the brain are still largely
unknown. Doctors have recently reported that as many as fifty
percent of patients who experienced periods of major depression
also possessed high levels of cortisol, which as we know can
have negative effects on the brain and it's cells.
A recent study conducted by The Washington University School of
Medicine located in St. Louis, Missouri has shown conclusive
evidence of damage to the brain's neurons in people suffering
from depression. Even those people who had been depressed years
prior to the testing still showed signs of brain damage, as much
as 12-15% cell atrophy in their hippocampus, resulting in the
loss of an infinite number of memory cells.
Aerobic exercise is an excellent way to reduce stress and its
negative effects on the brain. By engaging in some sort of
physical activity the body is able to relax, relieve levels of
tension and stress, and burn off nervous energy all at the same
time. Endorphins, which are the "feel good" chemicals produced
within the brain, are dramatically increased when we exercise
which in turn makes both the body and the mind feel better. Not
surprisingly, self-esteem can also even be lifted with regular
exercise as well as an increased overall body image.
In his book "Saving Your Brain" Dr. Jeff Victoroff theorizes
that the cultural evolution and fast-pace of today's society has
essentially overwhelmed the capabilities of the brain. However,
by simply relaxing, slowing ourselves down and learning how to
better deal with the common stressors of every day life we can
literally save ourselves from brain damage.
About The Author: Leon Edward helps others Improve IQ, Memory,
Focus, Concentration, Creativity, Reading Speed. Try brain games
online, Free IQ Tests, Mind Brain Books and downloads at
http://www.IQMindBrainLibrary
http://www.awesomesuccess.org for awesome personal achievement
and wealth.
