Stages and Biological Role
Emotional stress goes through two main stages:
- Adaptive stage. At the onset of conflict, stress plays a positive role. It mobilizes the body's resources so a person or animal can overcome or avoid the problem.
- Pathogenic stage. If the conflict lasts a long time, seems hopeless, or is accompanied by acute affects, stress transitions into a continuous form. As a result, the self-regulation mechanisms of functional systems break down, leading to disease.
Effects on the Cardiovascular System
Cardiovascular functions respond to stressors first. Resistance to such loads is individual: some organisms are predisposed to cardiovascular pathologies, while others are resistant. Interestingly, in individuals resistant to cardiac problems, stress often "hits" other organs, for example, causing gastric ulcers.
In predisposed individuals, prolonged irritation of negative hypothalamic zones leads to arterial hypertension. First, a transitory phase occurs (competition between pressor and depressor mechanisms), followed by a stable phase (mechanisms that raise blood pressure dominate), which can end in organic damage, up to myocardial infarction.
The Role of Movement and the Concept of "Unexpressed Emotions"
Emotions are closely linked to movement (flight, pursuit). According to W. Cannon, emotional arousal triggers the sympathoadrenal system, raising blood pressure and preparing muscles for action via catecholamines.
When muscular work begins, blood vessels in the muscles dilate, reducing peripheral resistance and compensating for the blood pressure spike. However, if immobilization occurs or a situation of "unexpressed emotions" arises (according to G.F. Lang), sympathetic activation raises blood pressure, but due to a lack of movement, compensatory vascular and baroreceptor mechanisms are not engaged. The result is chronically elevated blood pressure.
Stress Immunity and Prevention
Stress resistance can be actively enhanced. Contributing factors include:
- Dosed physical exercise. Shifting to motor activity (running, swimming) weakens negative emotions.
- Stress immunity. Formed through short, mild, and regular stress loads (e.g., hypoxia, temperature drops, fasting) via cross-adaptation mechanisms.
- Positive emotions. Hobbies and rewarding work generate endorphins and euphoriant peptides that break down negative excitation and suppress arrhythmias.
- Antioxidants and endogenous peptides (melatonin, substance P, prolactin, delta-sleep-inducing peptide).