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In a short video on NCCIH’s YouTube channel, Dr. Bruce McEwen of The Rockefeller University talks about how stress affects your mind and body.
Stress has multiple effects. It activates adrenaline and other hormones, as well as the nervous system and the immune system. Not all stress is harmful, Dr. McEwen says. However, the detrimental kind—often called toxic stress—can contribute to health problems. People who don’t have the internal resources and external support to help them cope with stress are particularly likely to experience negative effects.
Men and women react differently to toxic stress because their brains are wired differently, and therefore they may be at risk for different stress-related illnesses. Women may be more prone to developing depressive illnesses and men may be more prone to developing substance use problems when under chronic stress.
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