The Secret of Why Chronic Stress is the Key to Massive Health Gains

The top three causes of death in the US are Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and Neurodegenerative Disease. If you can avoid or delay the onset of these diseases the result is greater health for a longer time. 

The US has what seems like an unhealthy focus on extending life at all costs. Perhaps we should shift our focus to extending our health span rather than our life span.

I read a recent study in JAMA Neurology (Journal of the American Medical Association) about the relationship of stress-related disorders with the subsequent development of Neurodegenerative Disease. Here are some key findings:

  • In a nationwide group of individuals with and without stress related disorders those exposed to the stress were at a considerably higher risk of developing Neurodegenerative diseases. 
  • The risk was an 80% increased risk for vascular neurodegenerative diseases
  • The risk was a 31% risk increase for primary neurodegenerative diseases

You might be wondering what Neurodegenerative Disease refers to. The primary examples are Alzheimer Disease and Parkinson Disease. 

Here is a post I made about STRESS

How Does Stress Impact Us?

Think of stress less about what happens to you and more about how your brain and nervous system responds to the circumstances and events of your life. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced an extreme event. But, it doesn’t develop in everyone who experiences the same event. 

Think of stress as the situations and events that exceed the capacity of your nervous system to process at the time. It more broadly involves any stimulus that our nervous system might perceive as a threat. This doesn’t have to be a real threat to have an impact. Our daily lives are filled with stimuli that trigger a response from our nervous system. 

So what happens in response to these triggers?

When exposed to these stress triggers your Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) responds. This is often referred to as the “Fight-or-Flight” division of your nervous system. It prioritizes ALL body functions to potentially fight or flee for survival. This is a great short term response. Here are some of the basic responses of the SNS:

  • Raises heart rate and blood pressure
  • Raises blood glucose
  • Raises stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline
  • Impairs digestion
  • Impairs sleep
  • Impairs immune response
  • Shunts blood from your organs to your muscles
  • Increases inflammation

All of those responses are in line with the priority of survival. After all, if your life is in danger, sleep and digestion matter little. 

The problem lies not in the very occasional firing of the Sympathetic System but in the repeated daily activation. Over time this system becomes dominant and we live in a state of Sympathetic activation. These responses are counter to our needs for long term health and well being. 

The activation of the Sympathetic System also causes a suppression of the Vagus Nerve of the Parasympathetic System. This is often referred to as the “Rest and Digest” system. Here’s a little of what you lose with lowered Vagus Nerve activity:

  • Rest, relaxation, and recovery
  • Restorative sleep
  • Healthy digestion
  • Lowered inflammation
  • Healthy immune response
  • Lowered heart rate and blood pressure

How is Stress the Key to Massive Health Gains?

What I’ve laid out is the nervous system’s response to common daily “stress triggers”. These repeated triggers of the Sympathetic System create a state of near constant Sympathetic activity and a corresponding suppression of Vagus Nerve activity. 

How did this happen?

There is a principle in neurology that explains this process. It is called “Neurons that fire together, wire together”. The repeated activation of the SNS made it progressively easier to activate, so much so that it became the dominant state.

What if you could use that same neurological principle to reverse this process?

You can!

The Vagus Nerve is Your Key!

There isn’t a way to avoid the stress triggers of life!

You can’t manage your way out of stress!

But, you can activate your Vagus Nerve and that over time will have a couple of powerful effects:

  • Lowering activity of the Sympathetic System
  • Lowering inflammation, muscle tension, and pain
  • Restorative Sleep
  • Healthy immune function
  • Healthy heart rate and blood pressure 

The Sympathetic Nervous System will always be available and responsive. But, by consistently activating the Vagus Nerve you can shift from a state of Sympathetic Dominance to a state of Vagal Dominance.

The Question is how?

  • Remove any sources of irritation and pressure to the nervous system that might be suppressing Vagus Nerve activity and stimulating the Sympathetic Nervous System. Be selective in choosing someone to work with.
  • Remove any sources of nerve tension and interference.
  • Restore Structural Balance as imbalance is a driver of nerve tension, irritation, and Sympathetic activity. 
  • Activate the Vagus Nerve frequently in multiple ways. Think of the Vagus Nerve like a muscle that hasn’t been used in a long time. You couldn’t strengthen that muscle with one weight lifting session or even once a week. The Vagus Nerve needs to be activated as often throughout your day as possible. 

Some easy ways to activate the Vagus Nerve:

  • Conscious Breathwork that has been demonstrated to increase the tone of the Vagus Nerve.
  • Nasal and Diaphragmatic breathing.
  • Slowing your breathing down.
  • Nature exposure. The repeating patterns of nature called fractals have a calming influence on the nervous system. 
  • Gentle touch and movement. Everyone has their own preferences here. 

Chronic stress is linked not only to neurodegenerative disease but to almost all illness and disease. Imbalance of the Autonomic Nervous System is found in every health challenge. 

You have the power to shift how your nervous system functions and as a result your experience of health.

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