How the human nervous system works

In civilizational terms, psychological stress is an adaptation mechanism. Thanks to it, mankind has been able to survive since ancient times and is now successfully adapting to ever-changing living conditions. However, there is another side of the coin: too long stress can be the cause of numerous diseases. What happens to the nervous system during stress?

To catch the mammoth and save money

If a person is faced with danger or something incomprehensible, it is stressful for him. In such situations, with the help of the nervous system, the body automatically adjusts to two courses of action: either fight (immediately adjust to the new conditions) or run away (avoid them). Under the influence of stress, caused, for example, by a sudden encounter with a mammoth or a computer scammer, the adrenal glands release the neurotransmitters adrenaline and noradrenaline, which put the body in a state of combat readiness. The brain increases the amount of glutamate, an activator mediator, and decreases the level of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an inhibitory mediator that has a calming effect. The synthesis of cortisol, which supports the readiness to react immediately, is also increased, for which it is known as the stress hormone.

All these reactions occur very quickly, so a person’s heart rate increases almost instantly, muscle tone and blood pressure rise, lungs work better, all senses become sharper, thinking becomes clearer, and memory throws up successful options for getting out of a similar situation from previously acquired life experience. In general, stressful changes in the nervous system prepare us for urgent actions in our favor. Once, thanks to this, a person had a chance to kill a mammoth, save his life and provide his children with meat, and now he can avoid the risk of becoming a victim of a virtual fraudster and save money in his bank account.

Imbalance

Stress reactions are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, which functions without conscious effort on the part of the individual. This system has two divisions: sympathetic, which activates us to “fight” or “flee” when we encounter danger, and parasympathetic, which is responsible for rest, energy recovery, relaxation, etc.

Regardless of whether stress is life-threatening or not, the autonomic nervous system always reacts in the same way, i.e. activation of the sympathetic department occurs in any case: due to troubles at work, financial problems, traffic jams, family obligations, worry about relatives, etc. And since most people are almost always under stress, the body is constantly threatened, so the sympathetic department works “overtime” and the parasympathetic department works “at half strength.” This means that with chronic stress in the body, the balance between the synthesis of substances that activate and calm a person is disturbed, which has negative consequences. For example, over time, due to persistently high levels of adrenaline, blood vessels become damaged, leading to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems. Excess cortisol increases appetite and helps the body store energy in the form of fat – we gain excess weight.

There are other undesirable consequences of stress, but they can be prevented. This is what the products in the Bestia range are designed to do, helping the nervous system to function properly and in a balanced way – so that stress cannot harm your health.

BESTIA Calm and active

BESTIA Tranquility to an agitated heart