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INTRODUCTION

Chronic Stress-induced impact on the human body has become a serious concern of public health, and several scientists have focused lately on knowing the effect of stress on different body systems.  According to the Britannica website, stress conditions affect the nervous system by activating the sympathetic nervous system, which produces a widespread response called the fight-or-flight response. This effect (fight-or-flight) prepares the body to face danger. Activating the sympathetic nervous system induces the secretion of large quantities of epinephrine hormone from the adrenal gland (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2021). The epinephrine secreted results in a series of actions in the human body which include, a rise in heart rate and cardiac output, skeletal muscle vasodilation and gastrointestinal vasoconstriction, pupillary dilation, and bronchial dilation. All these actions keep the body active for sudden dangerous situations (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2021; (Osborne et al., 2020). However, under chronic stress the release of the epinephrine from the sympathetic nervous system further increases, leading to increased activity of the hormone (epinephrine) and cortisol hormone from the adrenal gland. Chronic stress-inducing release of these substances results in serious health outcomes such as increased blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), which results to type 2 diabetes mellitus and increased blood pressure levels that result in hypertension that also predisposes one to several cardiovascular diseases (Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2021; (Osborne et al., 2020).

An overview of the nervous system is essential in understanding the effect of chronic stress on the system. The human nervous system is composed is divided into two, the central nervous system and parasympathetic nervous system (Sembuligam and Sembulimgam, 2012). The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of the brain and spinal cord (Sembuligam and Sembulimgam, 2012). It is composed of large interconnected nerve cells that are orderly arranged. Information is passed through the neuronal network. This network of neurons communicates with each other through neurotransmitters (Sembuligam and Sembulimgam, 2012). As for the peripheral nervous system, it is divided into two, namely the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system is also divided into two known as the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems (Sembuligam and Sembulimgam, 2012). During stressful conditions, the sympathetic nervous system releases epinephrine that activates the fight-or-flight mechanism in the human body (Sembuligam and Sembulimgam, 2012).

Stress can mean the way the human body responds to demands of life or threat. It can also mean human reaction when feeling or sensing danger ((Khalil et al., 2020). A stressor is a stimulus (or threat) that causes stress, examples include; exam, divorce, death of loved one, loss of job, a diagnosis of life-threatening illness, natural disasters, or violence (Song et al., 2019). To cope with stressful conditions, the human body and brain synergistically engage in a complex mechanism, which is normally referred to as the stress mechanism. The brain and its structures play a vital role in the stress system. The brain detects and interprets the above-mentioned stressors, it activates the two major component of the stress system, which include the sympathetic-adreno-medular (SAM) which is responsible for the secretion of the noradrenaline and norepinephrine (Godoyet al., 2018;). The other component is the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis that activates the secretion of glucocorticoids. Activation of the above-mentioned stress will generate a coordinated response and appropriate strategy to enable the body to cope with stressful conditions (Godoyet al., 2018). The action of the systems may last for days while quickly responding to the stimulus to ensure that the homeostatic mechanism of the human boy is being restored (Godoyet al., 2018). The stress response mechanism suppresses digestion and reproductive systems, but increases metabolic changes, increases energy production and activation of the immune system. However, the effect of the stress response affects the non-genomic, genomic, epigenetic mechanisms, proinflammatory signaling results in altered cellular excitability and neural plasticity. These effects alter the physiology of the body resulting in disease conditions (Godoyet al., 2018).

Stress is an important physiological phenomenon that is essential for humans’ adaptation. Several studies have shown that chronic stress is associated with disorders of the nervous system, such disorders include brain disorders, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic disorders (Godoyet al., 2018; Nemeroff, 2016; Saveanu, and Nemeroff, 2012). Other effects of stress on the nervous system include causing structural changes in different sections of the brain which affects memory and cognition. Chronic stress also leads to the death of the brain cells and decreases the weight of the brain (Yaribeygi, et al., 2017; Sarahian et al., 2014). However, it is important to investigate the effect of chronic stress on the nervous system.

AIM

• To determine the effect of chronic stress on the nervous system

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

• To determine the effect of chronic stress on the brain
• To determine the effect of chronic stress on nerve functions
• To understand the role chronic stress play in impaired memory
• To understand the role chronic stress play in psychiatry disorders
• To understand the role chronic stress play in depression

RESEARCH PROBLEM

Chronic Stress-induced is known to affect major systems in the body such as the cardiovascular system and the immune system leading to a long-term h or ill state health condition (Song et al., 2019). Several studies have shown that stress is associated with disorders of the nervous system, such disorders include brain disorders, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic disorders (Godoyet al., 2018; Nemeroff, 2016; Saveanu, and Nemeroff, 2012). Other effects of stress on the nervous system include causing structural changes in different sections of the brain which affects memory and cognition. Chronic stress also leads to the death of the brain cells and decreases the weight of the brain (Yaribeygi, et al., 2017; Sarahian et al., 2014). Therefore, careful study of the major effect of chronic stress on the nervous system is important.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

• What is the effect of chronic stress on the brain?
• What is the effect of chronic stress on nerve functions?
• What role does chronic stress play in impaired memory?
• What role does chronic stress play in psychiatry disorders?
• What role does chronic stress play in depression?

SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY

Several studies have reported the effect of stress on the nervous system.  Some suggested that stress is associated disorders include brain disorders, depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic disorders (Godoyet al., 2018; Nemeroff, 2016; Saveanu, and Nemeroff, 2012). However, few studies exist that discussed the effect of chronic stress on the nervous system. Therefore, this study will help to bridge the gap in knowledge regarding the effect of chronic stress on the nervous system and the role of stress in nervous disorders.

METHODOLOGY

• Study Design: This study will review current literature to determine the effect of stress on cardiovascular diseases. In the search for this literature, keywords such as “Chronic Stress”, “Stressors”, “Nervous system”, “Nervous disorder”, “Stress”, “Mental disorders”, “Depression’’, and other related terms will be utilized. Databases such as Pubmed/ Medline, Google Scholar, Cochrane library, will also be used to source data Also, Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be used in selecting relevant literature for this study.
• ANALYSIS

The following will be used for analysis in this review, they are; cluster analysis (CA) and/or factor analysis (FA), and/or principal component analysis (PCA). The results will be presented as odds ratios (OR).

• RISK ASSESSMENT

The risk assessment conducted for this project is provided in the table below:

Table 1:  Risk assessment

• SCHEDULE

    Table 2: Project Plan

REFERENCES

Encyclopedia Britannica (2021) Sympathetic Nervous System https://www.britannica.com/science/sympathetic-nervous-system

Godoy L.D., Rossignoli, M.T., Delfino-Pereira, P., Garcia-Cairasco. N. and de Lima, E. (2018) A Comprehensive Overview on Stress Neurobiology: Basic Concepts and Clinical Implications. Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience 12:     

Nemeroff, C. B. (2016). Paradise lost: the neurobiological and clinical consequences of child abuse and neglect. Neuron, 89: 892–909.

Khali, A. I., Nasr, R. E., and Enar, R. E. (2018). Relationship between Stress, Immune System, and Pandemics of Coronaviruses’ COVID19: Updates Narrative Review. In European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine (Vol. 7).

Osborne, M.T., Shin, M.L., Mehta, N.N., Pitman, R.K., Fayad, A.Z., Tawakol, A. (2020) Disentangling the Links Between Psychosocial Stress and Cardiovascular Disease. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 13: e010931.

Sarahian, N., Sahraei, H., Zardooz, H., Alibeik, H., Sadeghi, B. (2014) Effect of memantine administration within the nucleus accumbens on changes in weight and volume of the brain and adrenal gland during chronic stress in female mice. Modares J Med Sci: Pathobiology. 2: 17:71–82.

Saveanu, R. V., and Nemeroff, C. B. (2012). Etiology of depression: genetic and environmental factors. Psychiatr. Clin. North Am. 35:51–71.

Sembulingam K and Sembulingam P (2012) Essential of medical Physiology 6^th edition chapter   133.

Song, H., Fang, F., Arnberg, F.A., Mataix-Cols, D., de la Cruz, F.L., Almqvist, C., Fall, K., Lichtenstein, P., Thorgeirsson, G. and Valdimarsdóttir, U.A. (2019) Stress-related disorders and risk of cardiovascular disease: Population-based, sibling controlled cohort study. BMJ,  365:l1255

Yaribeygi, H., Panahi, Y., Sahraei, H., Johnston, T. P., & Sahebkar, A. (2017). The impact of stress on body function: A review. EXCLI Journal, 16, 1057–1072.

Last updated: Jan 18, 2022 04:45 PM