It should seem evident that the gut and brain frequently influence one another given how closely they interact. Before presentations, some persons experience nausea, and others get abdominal pain when under stress. In any case, functional gastrointestinal problems are influenced by emotional and psychological aspects.
Stress has a special impact on how well the digestive system functions. Heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and related lower abdominal pain are typical gastrointestinal symptoms of stress. It is becoming clearer how these symptoms are caused by changes in intestinal function.
What exactly does stress do to our digestive system? According to numerous studies, stressful life events can cause the symptoms of a number of digestive diseases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and peptic ulcer disease, to appear or worsen.
Gut motility and fluid secretion are accelerated by stress. This is why experiencing or immediately after a stressful incident, you could get a case of diarrhea or persistent urination desires. Stress can speed up the movement of material through the intestines while also delaying the emptying of the stomach, which results in both changed bowel habits and abdominal pain5. A person's pain tolerance is also lowered by intense psychological stress.
It depends on the individual, but stress can have negative effects on your physical and emotional health as well as your interpersonal relationships. Aside from the digestive system, stress has many other effects on the mind, body, and behavior, such as changes in weight, headaches, muscle aches, mood swings, and impaired mental function.
To deal with stress in your life, you must develop your own strategy. To lower your total stress level, it could be beneficial to arrange some events in advance. Understanding your stress management style can enable you to adopt lifestyle changes that will reduce your stress levels, improve your ability to handle stress, and hasten your recovery from stressful events.
So, here are ways to De-Stress and Decrease Anxiety: Improve your breathing; Don’t worry too much; Keep an eye on your negative thinking; Get moving, do exercise; Improve your time management skills; Say no more often, set boundaries; Spend some time on yourself; Have a hearty laugh as it is a stress reliever; and Pick your foods wisely, as some meals can make you feel more stressed, while others can help you feel less stressed.
AA I Floricel N. Denopol, RND
Refences:
Stress and the Gut
By Dr. Howard Mertz
https://www.med.unc.edu/ibs/wp-content/uploads/sites/450/2017/10/Stress-and-the-Gut.pdf
Stress and Your Gut
https://badgut.org/information-centre/a-z-digestive-topics/stress-and-your-gut/
How Stress Impacts The Microbiome And Gut Health
https://atlasbiomed.com/blog/how-stress-impacts-the-gut-via-the-gut-brain-axis/
