When someone is dealing with excessive stress this activates your sympathetic nervous system. This response is part of the fight or flight response, which the body utilizes to react to a threat. Many systems of the body are involved in this process. For instance, there is an increase in adrenaline as well as a slowing of food digestion. It will also increase your respiratory rate while concurrently activating larger muscles and reduce activation of postural muscles to evade a threat. A spike in adrenaline can also increase the sensitivity of nerves and body tissue, which can then subsequently produce symptoms of pain. This is why it is not a prerequisite to have suffered an injury in order to feel pain. More specifically, in individuals who suffer from chronic pain conditions this mechanism is extended for longer periods of time. If a stressor remains in place for prolonged intervals this can result in a higher production of cortisol, which can lead to reduction of bone formation, increased blood pressure, reproductive system impairments, and obesity. High levels of cortisol can also impair memory formation and limit the ability to learn. Cortisol production is directly affected by psychological issues such as fear, depression, and anxiety. It can also be influenced by stressors related to illness, injury, surgery, and pain. Another major issue of chronically spiked levels of cortisol is that the presence of it stimulates the production of cytokines from the immune system, which can increase inflammation systematically throughout the body. 

Kyle S. Kasman, PT, DPT

Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
484-781-5341
[email protected]