How chronic stress inhibits growth and healing via the HPA Axis.
What is the HPA Axis?
The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is a group of brain structures contributing to hormone production and stress response. The HPA axis regulates the sympathetic nervous system to keep people from being on edge. When the HPA Axis is overstimulated, it can lead to chronic stress. Chronic stress can inhibit the body's healing capabilities, leading to disease. Chronic stress leads to high blood pressure, obesity, worsening of hormone-driven cancers, inflammatory responses, psychological disorders, and other conditions.
How does the HPA Axis contribute to chronic stress?
The HPA axis has the evolutionary function of protecting people from environmental threats like running from animals or staying alert in the dark to fend off predators. However, the HPA axis is often stimulated in response to minor stressors such as traffic, heavy workloads, or interpersonal conflicts. Over time, these stressors inhibit the ability to maintain a parasympathetic state of relaxation. The parasympathetic nervous system contributes to the body's healing, resting, and being at ease.
How to reduce stress so you can grow and heal?
Mindfulness may not be a cure, but it seriously helps. Plenty of peer-reviewed literature and experimental studies show that mindfulness significantly decreases stress.
This is a great article. We should all do this every day.