We use the word
‘‘stress’’ frequently in everyday discourse, and yet the meaning is ambiguous,
since the word refers to many experiences in life that are sometimes beneficial
or other times negative and even traumatic, but often reflect the daily
‘‘grind’’ of our lives as in feeling ‘‘stressed out.’’ The common definition of
‘‘stress’’ focuses on acute challenges as in the fight-or-flight response and
generally mentions mediators of only two of the interacting systems that are
involved, namely, adrenaline and cortisol.
The brain is the central
organ of stress and adaptation to social and physical stressors because it
determines what is threatening, stores memories, and regulates the
physiological as well as behavioral responses to stressors that may be damaging
or protective.
The stress can be
classified in two main types as — acute stress and chronic stress. Acute stress
is the reaction to an immediate threat, commonly known as the “fight or flight”
response.
Once the threat has
passed, your levels of stress hormones return to normal with no long-lasting
effects. Chronic stress takes a toll on adrenal glands, leaving you
feeling wired but tired.
There are many different
ways chronic stress impacts your brain health and mental well-being, these are
as follows-
- Chronic stress increases your risk of dementia
and Alzheimer’s disease: One of the most worrying effects of stress on the
brain is that it increases your risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s.
2.
Stress impairs your memory and creates a vicious cycle
of fear and anxiety: Stress
weakens your memories. It builds up in a fear center. Stress makes you more
fearful, causing a vicious cycle of even more fear, which further aggravates
stress.
3.
Stress increases mental illnesses: Stress predisposes you
to develop a variety of mental illnesses including anxiety and panic disorders,
depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, drug addiction and alcoholism.
4.
Stress decreases production of new brain cells: Brain-derived
neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a protein that’s integral in keeping existing
brain cells healthy and stimulating new brain cell formation. But cortisol
halts the production of BDNF resulting in fewer new brain cells being formed.
Lowered levels of BDNF are associated with brain-related conditions including
depression, OCD, schizophrenia, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
5.
Chronic stress contributes to brain inflammation: Chronic stress is one of
the factors that increases the risk of activating your microglia, thus
producing brain inflammation.
6.
Stress aggravates depression: Serotonin is called the
“happy molecule.” It plays a large role in mood, learning, appetite control,
and sleep. Chronic stress reduces levels of serotonin and dopamine. Low levels
of either of these neurotransmitters can leave you depressed and more prone to
addictions.
7.
Stress creates free radicals: Chronic and excessive
stress leads to formation of free radicals in brain, that attack brain cells,
also other wrong lifestyle habits due to stress like, eating junk food, drinking
too much alcohol, or smoking cigarettes, these are contributing to your free
radical load that create more free radicals.
8.
Chronic stress shrinks your brain: Stress can measurably
shrink your brain. Cortisol can kill, shrink, and stop the generation of new
neurons in the hippocampus, the part of your brain that stores memories.
Take Ayurvedic stress
reliever to de-stress yourself:
SUMENTA are the best
ayurvedic medicine for
stress relieving formulation designed by Charak Pharma. SUMENTA is the combination of
anti-stress and anxiolytic ingredients. It reduces fatigue and improves the
quality of life with increased sense of wellbeing and enthusiasm naturally.
Brahmi in SUMENTA helps to relax the
nervous system and exerts anxiolytic activity. Tagar exhibits anxiolytic and
sleep enhancing properties. Ashwagandha acts as a mood stabilizer. Jatamansi
has neuroprotective properties.
So take SUMENTA to
reduce stress and protect your brain without any side effects unlike other
psychotropic drugs.
