Why does our stomach turn over when we are stressed or excited?

You are before a stressful date and your stomach turns upside down.

What actually happens to us in the body that connects the mental sensations to the physical ones - and can this be prevented?

Our doctor explains

Dr. Liora Barzag Pro

03/07/2022

Sunday, 03 July 2022, 08:18 Updated: 08:24

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There is hardly anyone who has not experienced this feeling.

Woman holding her belly (Photo: ShutterStock)

There is hardly anyone who has not experienced this feeling - you are before an important meeting or date and your stomach feels like it is turning over.

You must also have thought about the connection between the inverted stomach and the excitement or thoughts that occur because of somewhere else in the body.

So here's the connection:

in our body operates the autonomic nervous system, the one responsible for involuntary bodily actions.

It is divided into two complementary systems: the first is called parasympathetic and is activated in a routine or state of rest and the second is called sympathetic and is the one that is activated in states of stress.

The latter is the one who takes care of our body in emergencies and is responsible for the mechanism called fight or flight and it actually helps the body fight the threat or escape from it.

It is a survival mechanism that exists in humans and other mammals that allows for a physical response to life-threatening situations.

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What happens to the body when the system is activated?

Our senses detect a state of stress and respond accordingly: the pupils contract, hearing sharpens, breathing becomes faster, the heart beats faster and stronger, the blood vessels constrict and the blood pressure rises, all to pump more blood to the body and especially to the muscles.

In addition, the adrenal gland (adrenal) goes into action and begins to secrete hormones (adrenaline, norepinephrine, cortisol).

These are responsible for more efficient and faster metabolism, breaking down sugar stores and making available energy available to vital tissues.

The body actually allocates the important resources to the most vital organs, as a result of which there is a slowdown of the digestive system (which is not temporarily essential), so we may suffer from nausea or abdominal pain.

When we experience stress for a long time or many times we will suffer from diarrhea or constipation and even irritable bowel syndrome which is linked to stress.

In the country unfortunately most people have experienced a real emergency, including alarms, military situations and even the murmur of someone walking behind us in the dark, but sometimes the banal life experiences, like examination, stress at work or family situations, put us in a similar stress situation and then the sympathetic system is continuously activated.

This chronic activation can cause physical changes that will affect us and even cause diseases, such as high blood pressure, anxiety and depression.

Stress causes high blood pressure.

Blood pressure gif (Photo: Giphy, Physiology Animations)

What happens when the system is activated chronically?

• When the secreted hormones are in the blood for a long time, they can weaken the bones, the immune system, cause sleep disorders and cause muscle thinning.

• High blood pressure over a long period of time will cause damage to the blood vessels and as a result can lead to damage to the heart or brain in the form of a stroke or heart attack.

• Stressed people tend to eat more or alternatively eat unhealthy foods as well as smoke and drink more alcohol.

  It will cause heartburn and abdominal pain and weight gain.

  If not treated properly, a stomach ulcer can form.

• The muscles in the head and neck may contract during times of stress and therefore we may suffer from headaches and migraines.

• Changes in the menstrual cycle and changes in premenstrual syndrome.

How can the long-term effects of stress be avoided?

First contact a medical professional for assistance.

Risk factors for serious diseases, such as antihypertensive drugs or lipids, should be treated.

Dietitians should be consulted to regulate their diet.

There are many relaxation techniques, including breathing, yoga and regular exercise.

It is also important to discuss things, with family, friends or competent officials.

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