Stress and the Digestive System The digestive system cannot The Science function properly with too much stress or stimulation. Thus, we need to practice activating the Have you ever felt nervous and relaxation response as often as we experienced “butterflies” in your can. stomach? Or felt stressed and then felt nauseas? This is because the brain directly affects the stomach. The gut is the highest area of nerves outside of the brain and is sometimes called the "second brain." The stress response inhibits the digestive system while the relaxation response activates it. That is why the relaxation response is often called “rest and digest.” When the stress response is activated, digestion is suppressed so the body can reroute its resources to trigger fight or flight. The central nervous system shuts down digestion by slowing contractions of digestive muscles and decreasing secretions for digestion. If the stress response happens occasionally, the body recovers and continues with normal https://caps.byu.edu/biofeedback functioning. If the stress response The Techniques is triggered too often, the body has a harder time recovering. This Here are some tips for learning how to impedes the flow of digestion and manage stress and decrease symptoms can cause stomach upset. It can affecting the digestive system: also contribute to the development of irritable bowel syndrome and/or Exercise: Exercise is one of the ulcers. best things you can do to manage stress and maintain healthy
Stress and the Digestive System The Science Have you ever felt nervous and experienced “butterflies” in your stomach? Or felt stressed and then felt nauseas? This is because the brain directly affects the stomach. The gut is the highest area of nerves outside of the brain and is sometimes called the "second brain." The stress response inhibits the digestive system while the relaxation response activates it. That is why the relaxation response is often called “rest and digest.” When the stress response is activated, digestion is suppressed so the body can reroute its resources to trigger fight or flight. The central nervous system shuts down digestion by slowing contractions of digestive muscles and decreasing secretions for digestion. If the stress response happens occasionally, the body recovers and continues with normal functioning. If the stress response is triggered too often, the body has a harder time recovering. This impedes the flow of digestion and can cause stomach upset. It can also contribute to the development of irritable bowel syndrome and/or ulcers. The digestive system cannot function properly with too much stress or stimulation. Thus, we need to practice activating the relaxation response as often as we can. https://caps.byu.edu/biofeedback The Techniques Here are some tips for learning how to manage stress and decrease symptoms affecting the digestive system: Exercise: Exercise is one of the best things you can do to manage stress and maintain healthy
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