Fact 8: The Role of Stress
While our ancestors had to deal with physical stressors like wildlife and environmental challenges, the modern human grapples with deadlines, financial worries, and societal pressures. Such chronic stress can have a substantial impact on our physical health, including our digestive system.
When stressed, the body releases cortisol, a hormone that can increase stomach acid production. This enhanced acid environment can weaken the stomach lining, making it more susceptible to ulcers.
Ever had a gut-wrenching feeling or butterflies in your stomach? This isn’t just poetic language. Our gut and brain are intricately connected, with both affecting each other. Chronic stress can lead to various digestive issues, ulcers being one among them.
It’s not just about reducing stress but also about how one copes with it. Healthy coping mechanisms, such as meditation, deep-breathing exercises, physical activity, or even hobbies, can mitigate the impact of stress on the stomach.(8)
