Imagine a scenario that goes something like this: you’re walking down the hallway, heading to your lecturer’s office. You’ve been asked to see him and he sounded very serious on the phone. As you approach his door, you feel a sudden, strange, uneasy sensation in your stomach or gut. This feeling is not a coincidence or a one-off thing. In fact, your gut and brain are deeply connected. That is why when you feel stressed, your stomach feels it too.
“The gut is often referred to as the second brain because it has a nervous system with more neurotransmitters than the brain’s central nervous system,” says Tracey Torosian, an American psychologist who specialises in gastrointestinal health. This link between your gut and your brain is why stress can and does often show up in your stomach, whether it’s before a big meeting or in the midst of a stressful situation.
For starters, we all know what it’s like to experience stress. The pressure of work deadlines, family responsibilities or personal challenges all lead to our stress. And during a typically stressful time, we notice our gut acting up, whether it’s bloating, having a stomach ache or simply feeling off or queasy. Now, this happens because this stress triggers the body’s response, which affects the digestive system. Understanding the relationship between stress and gut health is thus the first step towards taking control of our wellbeing and improving both our mental and physical health.
So, join us as we explore how stress affects our gut health and how to manage it in a better way.
Those butterflies in your stomach when you spot your college crush walking by? You might’ve even wondered what’s going on with your stomach as you look at him or her! Well, we’ve all been there. The gut is often referred to as the second brain, because the gut and the brain are closely linked through what’s called the gut-brain axis. When you’re stressed, your brain sends signals to your gut, which can cause physical symptoms like nausea or diarrhea.
Interestingly, the gut has its own nervous system that controls how food moves through your digestive system. When stress kicks in, your brain releases hormones like cortisol, which can mess with how your gut works. This can disturb the good bacteria in your gut and can lead to bloating, gas or other serious digestive problems. So, an understanding of the deep connection between your brain and your belly is important for managing your health.
Stress can disrupt the balance of good bacteria in your gut. This can lead to digestive issues like bloating, gas, diarrhea and constipation.
Stress can trigger flare-ups of conditions like acid reflux. It can cause discomfort and make symptoms difficult to manage.
Stress triggers the release of hormones like cortisol, which can cause your digestive muscles to tense up, leading to cramps or digestive issues.
When stressed, your gut becomes less efficient at breaking down food, which results in poor absorption of nutrients. This affects your overall health.
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