Chronic Stress and its Negative Effects

• The release of a hormone produced by the body called "cortisol" produces a negative effect on the immune system and is activated by stress.
• Cortisol is produced by the adrenal cortex and has the ability to elevate blood sugar levels and increase metabolism.
• When this occurs the circulating cortisol tends to divert energy away from specific protein synthesis, especially those needed by the immune system to produce T-cell components.
• High stress levels thus result in a negative factor, reducing the efficiency of the immune system as well as also releasing endorphins, which reduce pain, but also reduce immune system response to invaders.
• Athletes who are under extreme stress conditions therefore have a lower immune system response to foreign invaders and are more susceptible to diseases.
• Stress has been proven through numerous clinical studies to also force the liver to produce higher levels of cholesterol than required for normal bodily needs.

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