The Mind-Body Link: Modern Stress and Disease

Does stress or anxiety really cause physical illness?

“Our physical responses to stress basically work like this: when your brain perceives a threat (aka ‘stress’), certain hormones are released. These powerful hormones redirect energy and resources to respond to physical threats. Blood flow is restricted to some organs to conserve energy, while blood flow is increased to other organs, like muscles, to increase strength to fight (or run from) the threat. Modern stress is frequently ongoing. If you never return to a stress-free state, it can damage your entire body. High levels of some of these stress hormones in the bloodstream have been linked to hypertension, diabetes and even excess fat.”