Ep. 93: How Cortisol Affects Your Mitochondria & Acute vs. Chronic Stress (Stress & Mitochondria Part 1)
Jun 27, 2023
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Stress is a sneaky foe, wreaking havoc on your mitochondria. Cortisol, the stress hormone, can lead to serious health issues like insulin resistance and heart disease. The quest for balance is vital, as chronic stress has damaging effects over time. Discover the phases of stress response and how acute stress doesn't always improve health. Learn about the surprising role of glucocorticoids and their long-term impact on metabolism. Join the conversation on optimizing energy and combating the perils of prolonged stress.
Cortisol, as a primary stress hormone, leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, causing various health issues like heart disease and insulin resistance.
Hans Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome emphasizes the phases of stress response, highlighting how chronic stress can deplete energy reserves over time.
Chronic stress causes systemic degeneration and various health issues, including inflammation and immune suppression, necessitating effective stress management strategies.
Deep dives
Understanding the Impact of Stress on Mitochondria
The episode discusses the significant negative effects of stress on mitochondrial function, emphasizing the role of cortisol as a primary stress hormone. Cortisol can lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, resulting in a range of health issues, including heart disease, insulin resistance, and autoimmune conditions. This biochemical response also demonstrates how chronic stress can cause the body to become depleted of energy over time, leading to symptoms such as fatigue and cognitive impairment. For example, individuals suffering from chronic stress may experience a decline in their overall health, demonstrating the necessity of managing stress effectively.
Han Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome Explained
The discussion around Han Selye's General Adaptation Syndrome illustrates the three distinct phases: alarm, resistance, and exhaustion. During the alarm phase, the body initially reacts to a stressor by tapping into energy reserves, which can sometimes lead to a temporary dip in energy levels. In the resistance phase, stress hormones are activated to help the body cope with the stressor, but if the stressor persists, the body may enter the exhaustion phase. This prolonged state of stress can ultimately contribute to severe energy deficits and various chronic health conditions, highlighting the importance of recovery and energy management for long-term health.
Hormonal Response and Mitochondrial Health
Glucocorticoids play a vital role in the body's stress response, particularly in energy production through mitochondrial activation. Short-term exposure to these hormones can stimulate mitochondrial biogenesis, essentially enhancing the cells' energy capacity. However, chronic stress results in overexposure to cortisol, which disrupts mitochondrial function and leads to oxidative stress, ultimately resulting in cellular damage. The discussion also emphasizes the importance of balance, noting that while glucocorticoids are adaptive in the short term, prolonged exposure is detrimental to overall mitochondrial health and can lead to severe metabolic issues.
The Dangers of Excessive Energy Demand
The episode highlights how psychological and physical stressors increase the demand for energy, leading to an over-reliance on anaerobic glycolysis and resultant lactate production. For instance, individuals under chronic stress may experience elevated lactate levels after exercise due to inhibited mitochondrial function, reflecting a shift away from efficient energy production. Additionally, excess lactate can contribute to metabolic complications and increase the risk of panic attacks, further complicating health issues. This underscores the importance of adequate recovery to keep the body from slipping into a state of chronic stress and energy insufficiency.
Chronic Stress and Systemic Degeneration
Chronic stress leads to systemic degeneration by continuously activating the body's stress response without adequate recovery, resulting in multiple health issues, including inflammation, muscle wasting, and immune suppression. This cascade of events can disrupt various physiological systems, leading to conditions such as atherosclerosis and diabetes. Furthermore, chronic exposure to stress hormones is linked to mental health challenges like anxiety and depression, revealing the far-reaching implications of uncontrolled stress. The conversation reinforces the necessity of holistic approaches to health that address both physical and psychological stressors to avoid the deleterious effects of chronic stress.
How cortisol causes mitochondrial dysfunction, heart disease, insulin resistance, autoimmunity, allergies & hypersensitivity, mineral imbalances, and cancer metabolism
Why acute stress does not lead to improved health via hormesis
3:00 – an introduction to the paper: mitochondria as key components of the stress response
4:03 – Hans Selye’s general adaptation syndrome and the process of stress in relation to energy balance
23:30 – the 3 main effects of the stress hormones in the acute stress response and the cost to this response
31:48 – long-term glucocorticoid exposure causes insulin resistance and the protective effects of high blood sugar in certain contexts
34:04 – how long-term stress causes degeneration
34:55 – functions of the mitochondria
38:54 – mitochondria upregulate energy production in response to stress
41:06 – the short-term vs. long-term effects of the glucocorticoids (cortisol)
44:03 – how stress causes hormetic adaptations and how the hormetic pathways cause degeneration over time
50:30 – how mitochondria respond to excess stress and how this relates to fat gain
59:04 – how chronic stress and exposure to cortisol causes impaired energy production, degeneration, immunosuppression & autoimmunity, mineral imbalance, swelling, allergies & hypersensitivity, and cancer metabolism
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