Stress and Gastrointestinal Problems

How to keep the digestive system healthy

- Smt. Priyamvada Waghmare

This month at the Couples' Class our eminent guest speaker was India's renowned gastroenterologist Padma Shri Dr Amit Maydeo, Chairman of the Institute of Gastro Sciences at Reliance Hospital, Mumbai.

Dr. Maydeo spoke about stress and its effect on our body. Stress plays truant on the digestive system causing IBS, ulcers, gas, reflux or GERD.

The effect of stress on the cardiovascular system causes high blood pressure, the pulse going haywire, tachycardia, myocardial infarction or a heart attack.

On the immune system there could be sudden episodes of immunosuppression, where the human body gets exposed to toxins, viruses and bacteria invading the body. The hormones get disturbed due to stress leading to an increased production of cortisol, called steroids, which are stress hormones.

Increased production of adrenaline or norepinephrine leads to an increase in blood pressure. Impaired secretion of insulin leads to diabetes. The libido gets reduced. A normal person can develop a thyroid condition as the thyroid hormones are affected. Insomnia caused by stress can lead to behavioural changes like anger, mood swings, overeating, and push the person to addictions like alcoholism, tobacco, or substance abuse.