The Perfect Storm
We are in the midst of stress’ “Perfect Storm”: Between health worries, economic uncertainty, political concerns, online schooling, and the social/emotional issues associated with the holidays and lockdowns, many people are caught up in a damaging cycle of extreme stress. The effects of continual stress-response activation are far-reaching, affecting all body systems, with one of the most impacted being the digestive system.
The Perfect Storm of Stress
Health Worries
Economic Uncertainty
Political Concerns
Holiday Emotions
Online Schooling
Other Stressors
Health Worries
Economic Uncertainty
Political Concerns
Holiday Emotions
Online Schooling
Other Stressors
Disruptions in the Immune Response to Environmental Triggers
Prolonged stress can affect every step of digestion and GI function. Neurological and functional changes, triggered through activation of the sympathetic-adrenal-medullary (SAM) and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes, directly impact GI functioning through such mechanisms as changes in blood flow, gut microbiota, muscular contractions, secretions, neurotransmitters, etc.
In addition, these primary effects have secondary consequences that, when sustained over time, result in initiation or exacerbation of disease processes associated with gut-brain axis dysfunction, inflammation, and intestinal barrier dysfunction, among others.
In this issue, we’ve provided two research reviews that highlight disease processes of the GI system associated with chronic stress-response activation.
In Stress and the Gut:
Pathophysiology, Clinical Consequences, Diagnostic Approach and Treatment Options, Konturek, et al. discusses stress-related alterations in the gut-brain axis that lead to GI disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), other functional gastrointestinal diseases, and food antigen-related adverse responses.
In Stress and the Gastrointestinal Tract,
Bhatia et al. reviews how long-term alterations in the stress response influence the development of such conditions as GERD, ulcers, and gut inflammation.
These reviews are linked below for your reference. Although these reviews mention pharmaceutical treatments, like many such articles, functional medicine provides alternatives to address underlying mechanisms. Look for our Results Spotlight in this series highlighting the Functional Medicine approach.
Key elements of the research presented in these papers are captured in the table and our new Stress-Digestion infographic, both linked below.
Why is this research important?
Educating patients about the effects of stress and the contribution of stress to the etiology or exacerbation of disease is the first step in addressing it.
Exposure to prolonged stress alters brain-gut interactions, ultimately leading to the development of a broad array of psychological and GI disorders.
Some patients with functional GI conditions might improve with nutritional and lifestyle protocols designed to reduce stress.
Stress-Digestion Research
These free, online research papers review the impact of stress on digestion and the GI tract. Special attention is given to the role of stress in the pathophysiology of some of the most common GI ailments.
RESEARCH PAPER
Stress and the Gut: Pathophysiology, Clinical Consequences, Diagnostic Approach and Treatment Options
RESEARCH PAPER
Stress and the Gastrointestinal Tract
Education Sheet
Stress-Induced GI Shutdown
This downloadable table neatly summarizes key aspects of the research
Patient Education Toolkit
How to use this information in your clinic.
Infographic
Stress-Digestion Infographic
This infographic is designed as a scientific reference for clinicians and a patient education tool, with numbered discussion points on side 2 that refer to each part of the image. It details some of the major impacts of the stress response on digestive processes and GI health.
Video Presentation
To schedule a presentation of the Stress-Digestion Educational Package or Dr. Kharrazian’s video, contact your local Apex Energetics Representative or fill out this form.
Presentation
Stress-Digestion Presentation
This presentation is designed as a step-by-step educational piece on the topic of stress and digestion.
Video
Video with Dr. Datis Kharrazian
In this short video, Dr. Kharrazian will discuss the key takeaways from the research presented in this Spotlight, adding his own clinical insights.
Infographic
Systemic Effects of Stress Infographic
This patient handout is a visually engaging representation of the effects of stress on the entire body, including digestion. It’s a great conversation-starter to leave in your waiting room.
Stress-Digestion
Now it’s easy to be “in the know” with FM Spotlight. Each issue will have a research, clinical, or results theme that will be directly applicable to your practice and your patients’ health.
Stress Resilience*
