When a cave man walked through the forest, he’d see a saber-toothed tiger. He’d really freak out because they were supposed to be extinct. His heart rate would increase, his pupils would dilate, his blood would go out of his digestive system and into his arms and legs, his blood clotting ability would improve, he would become more aware, and his blood pressure would rise. Certain muscle groups would tighten—getting ready for action. At that point he’d either pick up a stick and try to fight the animal or run.

If he survived the ordeal, chances are it would be a while before such a strain was put on the adrenal glands and the rest of his body. He would have an opportunity to relax and eat nuts and berries (and a little saber-tooth tiger steak, if he was lucky). His adrenal glands and the rest of his body would have a chance to recover.

The adrenal glands produce their hormones in response to stress. They are responsible for the fight or flight response. In stressful situations, they raise your blood pressure, transfer blood from your intestines to your extremities, increase your heart rate, suppress your immune system and increase your blood’s clotting ability. This response is meant to be short-lived. Unfortunately, today’s stressors are not short-lived.

We Have a Name for This: Sympathetic Dominance

 Today, for many people, stress is relentless. The situations may not be life-threatening, but your body does not know the difference. Job deadlines, financial stress, traffic, or even watching the evening news can trigger a response that is not much different from seeing the tiger. It is a state of constant vigil and readiness. It is like stepping on the brake and gas pedal of your car at the same time—very stressful on the engine. You are burning your reserves unnecessarily.

A Prolonged Stress Response Destroys Health

  • Increased blood pressure & improved clotting ability: We are talking about heart disease, aren’t we?
  • Blood goes out of the digestive system and into the arms and legs: We are talking about IBS, indigestion, reflux, ulcers, and a whole host of digestive complaints.
  • Certain muscle groups would tighten: We are talking about neck pain, back pain, and muscle spasm.
  • Heightened awareness: We are talking about anxiety.

There are other changes. You need high calorie food for energy, making junk food very appealing. Your cholesterol goes up. Sleeping becomes difficult. Your immune system is suppressed. Your body wants to use energy–not store it so insulin insensitivity is an issue. Short term, these are not problems. Long term, it creates chronic health problems.

Read about Sympathetic Dominance in detail and what to do about it.