Did you know that stress has the ability to affect more than your mental state as stress and digestion go hand in hand?
We have all experienced stress at one time or another, and you likely already know that being under stress can cause headaches, flutters in the chest, and muscle tightness.
These stress symptoms though are just a signal of the deeper, and more ‘meaningful’ impact that stress can have on just about every part of your body, including your circulatory and nervous systems but also the immune and digestive systems.
It’s not all bad… Kind of
Believe it or not, not all stress is bad and the hormones released in response to stress are not either. Stress levels fluctuate throughout the day, the trick is keeping stress to manageable levels. The levels can be managed by taking deep breaths, going for a walk, listening to soothing music, or even something as simple as using a stress ball – yes, they can actually work.
Any of the strategies above can change the natural response of your body to enter its fight-or-flight response. They do this by stopping your stress hormones from revving up your blood pressure and your heart rate.
Stress affects your digestion
The gastrointestinal tract is full of nerve endings, as well as immune cells, and these are affected by stress-related hormones released by the body. As a result of this, stress can cause several problems directly and make other things worse. Stress and digestion issues equal a date from hell.
For example, stress can cause acid reflux and it can make the symptoms of IBS (irritable bowel syndrome) worse. The symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease can also be exacerbated when stress gets involved.
On top of this, a number of studies have also shown that a bodies’ natural immunity can also be lowered.
As mentioned, there are several techniques that can be employed in managing stress and digestion health, but exercise is among the very best methods. Exercise has the ability to relieve tension and also encourages the release of endorphins – these act as painkillers and also helps to improve sleep, which helps to combat stress and stress-related symptoms. This, in turn, helps to maintain a healthy digestion.
Of course, Silicolgel can also help with the symptoms of existing gastrointestinal issues. For more information on Silicolgel, you can take a look at the FAQ here.
