{"id":59749,"date":"2022-07-08T07:59:04","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T12:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?p=59749"},"modified":"2024-04-06T06:22:10","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T06:22:10","slug":"understanding-the-bodys-stress-response","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/understanding-the-bodys-stress-response\/","title":{"rendered":"Understanding the Body\u2019s Stress Response"},"content":{"rendered":"

When your body faces\u00a0stress<\/a>, it releases hormones that put your body on alert to protect itself. Short-term stress is normal and even beneficial, as it helps you manage an immediate situation and build resiliency. However, if stress continues or happens frequently, it can cause health problems.1<\/span><\/p>\n

Read on to learn about the role hormones play in the stress response.\"\"<\/p>\n

What Are Stress Hormones?<\/span><\/h2>\n

When your body senses danger, it activates the body’s sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to help maintain\u00a0homeostasis<\/span><\/span>\u00a0(stability when adapting to change). This system also helps prepare you to handle the danger, whether real or perceived.2<\/span><\/p>\n

The SNS is involved in the body’s stress response. It releases the stress hormones\u00a0adrenaline<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and\u00a0cortisol<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0to help with the “fight or flight” response. When the acute stress is over, the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) helps your body return to its normal state.3<\/span><\/p>\n

How Common Is Stress?<\/h2>\n
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Everyone experiences stress, but some are more affected by it, particularly people living in the United States. The American Institute of Stress states that 55% of Americans experience stress on a daily basis. This is 20% higher than the global average.4<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Cortisol<\/span><\/h2>\n

Cortisol belongs to a group of steroid hormones called\u00a0glucocorticoids<\/span><\/span>. It is sometimes called “the stress hormone” because of the large role it plays in the stress response.3<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cortisol is produced in the adrenal glands, located above the kidneys. It aids in the stress response by mobilizing stored glucose to be used as energy. This energy allows you to handle the stressful situation.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Cortisol helps in the fight-or-flight response by:<\/p>\n