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The World Health Organization describes stress as a state of mind caused by some difficult ordifferent encounters. The definition of stress differs from person to person.Hans Selye, a pioneer endocrinologist who is known as the “Father of stress” as he describedthe effects of stress on the human body, has proposed the definition for stress: “Stress is thenonspecific response of the body to any demand.”Stress: Definition and historyStress can distort the ability to concentrate and focus, overwhelming with a number of emotionsof worry, anxiety and irritability.Everyone in the world faces or experiences stress, they differ in their response towards it. CHEMICAL OUTLOOK FOR STRESS Digging deep it is observed that whenever the body is exposed to some stressful situation likeperforming in public, facing a threat like a dog barking at you or any unusual situation then thissignal is received at the hypothalamus, part of the brain stem. Stress triggers hypothalamus thatprompts the adrenal gland to release adrenaline and cortisol.Adrenaline causes increase the heart rate and blood pressure while cortisol also known asstress hormone increases the availability of glucose in the bloodstream preparing the body for aflight and flight response.Cortisol increases the energy levels and prepares the body to deal with the threat.Cortisol is associated with short term stressful situations. SYMPTOMS OF STRESS Stress makes it difficult for the body to relax. And sometimes in case of chronic stressfulsituations where the stress continues for weeks and months it can exacerbate the ongoingcomorbidities.Acute stress or short term stress can be characterized by changes in mood like irritability andanxiousness. It can also cause headaches, body pain and changes or loss in appetite. StressChronic or prolonged stress means that the body is exposed to high cortisol levels for a greatertime period that can affect the heart, elevate the blood pressure, induce insulin resistance,weight problems and weaken immune function. STRESS AFFECTS THE BODY Long term exposure of stress can have serious effects on the body: Musculoskeletal system:When the body is stressed, muscles tighten up. Stress affects the lower back and upperextremities of the body. When muscles are tensed for a longer period of time then it maylead to stress related disorder. Respiratory system:Under the influence of stress a person may experience respiratory symptoms like rapidbreathing or shortness of breath. A normal person can cope up this change thoughadditional efforts but a person who is primarily a patient of asthma or COPD then thisstressful encounter can exacerbate the existing condition so much that the person mightneed immediate medical help. Cardiovascular system:Under acute stress the body feels an increase in the heart rate and stronger contractionsof the heart muscles in order to fulfill the demand of the body that gets increased underthe influence of the stressful situation.And along with this the blood vessels supplying the blood to the heart are dilated as theheart pumps faster so in order to meet the demand of the heart this happens. Hence allthis scenario results in increased blood pressure.This constant increase in heart rate and elevated blood pressure can increase the risk ofhypertension, stroke or heart attack. Endocrine systemStress can activate the hypothalamus that signals the adrenal gland to releaseadrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline affects the vascular system while cortisol providesenergy to deal with the challenging situation. Gastrointestinal systemThere is a perfect gut-brain communication system in our body. Stress can disrupt thiscommunication leading to gut discomfort like bloating and pain. Stress can also alter thegut bacteria.Sometimes stress affects the appetite of the person making him eat too much or do noteat at all. Similarly stress can affect the bowel movements sometimes leading todiarrheal condition and sometimes constipation. Nervous system:Upon exposure to stress the sympathetic nervous system activates the flight and fightresponse,shifting the reservoirs of the body towards the efforts to deal with thechallenge.This includes slowing of the digestive system and increase in the blood supply towardsthe muscles. This is in short term stressful situations and is overcome as soon as thetrigger disappears. And then the peripheral system activates then follows rest anddigestion. COPING WITH STRESS There are certain strategies to cope up with stress to minimize its effect on one's daily life. Muscle relaxing techniques and other stress relieving techniques are found beneficial inrelieving the tension of the muscles. In case of chronic stress related disorders theseactivities are found to elevate mood and daily functions. Seeking medical help from experts and practicing relaxing and breathing techniques canbe helpful. Prioritize self-care. Eat a balanced diet with sufficient nutrition, engage yourself inregular physical activity. Surround yourself with your loved ones. Stay positive and calm. STRESS AND GEN Z : In this era where everyone seems to see each other as their competitor has resulted in a vastincrease in the number of youngsters who are facing psychological disorders like stress relateddisorders, anxiety or depression.Entering the teenage sometimes becomes challenging as change is occurring inside andoutside the youngsters like developing secondary sex characters, hormonal changes alongsideacademic progress and personal relations.According to research conducted among students to find out the triggers for stress it is observedthat personal relations is the main cause. Other than this second biggest cause is the financialor economic burden that today’s students are facing because of poor global economicconditions and in the age of getting tension of good grades they are becoming conscious abouthow they’ll be able to handle their education expenses while maintaining a certain class andstandard among their social circle. And then comes the financial and growth stress that isnowadays faced by every young person because of saturation in the job market and silver era offreelancing that has somehow managed to create a concept among youngsters that if you havemoney then why need education.

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