When someone experiences sudden stress or enters what’s called the “fight or flight” mode, their body undergoes a series of changes to prepare them to either face the challenge head-on or run away from it. Imagine your body as a smart system that, when sensing danger, quickly decides where to send its resources for the best chance of survival.

First, the body releases stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. Think of these hormones as messengers that tell different parts of your body to get ready for action. One of the things adrenalines do is make your heartbeat faster, which pumps blood more quickly to the muscles that need it most, like your arms and legs, so you can either fight the danger or run away from it. This is why you might feel your heart racing when you’re scared or stressed.

At the same time, blood is redirected away from areas where it’s not immediately needed, like the gastrointestinal (GI) system. This process, known as blood shunting, means that digestion slows down because the body is focusing on dealing with the stressor. It’s like the body decides that dealing with food is less important than dealing with the threat.

The release of these stress hormones and the changes in blood flow can have a big impact on how someone heals or recovers from illness. For one, if you’re constantly stressed, your body is always in this high-alert state, which can wear it out over time. Think of it like a car that’s always running at high speed; eventually, parts of it start to wear out faster. This can make it harder for the body to repair itself and fight off illnesses because resources like energy and nutrients might not be going where they’re needed most.

Moreover, the GI system being put on the back burner during stress can affect nutrition absorption and immune function, both of which are crucial for healing and recovery. The immune system relies on nutrients to function well, and if the body isn’t digesting food properly, it might not get the fuel it needs to support healing.

Physiological Changes During Fight-or-Flight

• Increased Heart Rate and Blood Pressure: These changes improve blood flow to muscles and critical organs, enhancing the body’s ability to respond to a threat.
• Release of Glucose: Energy stores are mobilized to provide immediate energy to muscles.
• Diversion of Blood Flow: Blood is redirected from non-essential areas (like the digestive system) to muscles, which can impair digestion and metabolism.
• Enhancement of Sensory Perception: The senses are heightened to better detect and respond to threats.
• Suppression of Non-Essential Functions: Processes such as immune function and reproduction are temporarily downregulated to conserve energy for immediate survival.

Summary

In summary, while the “fight or flight” response is a powerful survival mechanism, when it’s activated too often or for too long, it can have negative effects on our health, making it harder to recover from illnesses and affecting our overall well-being.