Stress is one of the most common topics I discuss with patients in the clinic. While it's something we all experience, understanding how stress functions in the body, and how it affects your health, is essential to feeling your best.

Two Types of Stress: Acute vs. Chronic

Stress can be divided into two categories:

• Acute stress is your body’s immediate response to a perceived threat, like an injury, illness, or a near accident. This is your body jumping into action, also known as the “fight or flight” response.

• Chronic stress, on the other hand, builds over time. It may be caused by long-term challenges such as caring for an aging parent, navigating a high-pressure job, or staying in an unhealthy relationship.

What Happens in the Body During Stress?

When we encounter a stressful situation, our body initiates a hormone cascade starting in the brain. The hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which signals the pituitary gland to release adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). ACTH then stimulates the adrenal glands, located on top of the kidneys, to produce stress hormones like cortisol, norepinephrine, and epinephrine.

This process activates the sympathetic nervous system, our “fight or flight” mode, which causes:

• Elevated heart rate and blood pressure

• Increased blood sugar for quick energy

• Suppressed digestion and reproductive functions

Once the perceived threat is gone, the body signals itself to calm down, reducing cortisol production and returning to a balanced state.

Chronic Stress and Cortisol Dysregulation

Unlike acute stress, chronic stress doesn’t allow your body to return to baseline. The hormone cascade is repeatedly activated, and over time, your adrenal glands may struggle to keep up with the demand for cortisol.

This prolonged exposure to high cortisol levels can lead to:

• Elevated blood pressure

• Insomnia or frequent waking during the night

• Blood sugar imbalances and sugar cravings

• Digestive issues like bloating and heartburn

• Hair loss, fatigue, anxiety, depression

• Menstrual irregularities, weight gain, and even fertility challenges

Eventually, the adrenal glands can become exhausted. When that happens, cortisol production drops and communication between the brain and adrenal glands becomes disrupted, leading to a state of cortisol resistance.

The Cortisol Rhythm and Why It Matters

Cortisol isn’t inherently bad. In fact, it follows a healthy circadian rhythm:

• High in the morning to give you energy

• Low in the evening to help you wind down and prepare for sleep

Ideally, cortisol functions like a “Goldilocks” hormone, not too high, not too low. But in people dealing with chronic stress, we often see cortisol too low in the morning (leading to exhaustion) and too high at night (making sleep difficult).

How Stress Affects Other Hormones

Cortisol doesn’t work alone. It interacts with:

• Progesterone, a key fertility hormone. Your body uses progesterone to make cortisol, so chronic stress can deplete progesterone and create estrogen dominance, leading to painful, heavy periods and trouble conceiving.

• Thyroid hormones, which regulate metabolism and energy. Chronic stress can block the body’s ability to produce active thyroid hormone, contributing to fatigue, weight gain, and mood changes.

These systems are all interconnected. If one is out of balance, others often follow.

How We Help at Protea Medical Center

At Protea, we take a comprehensive, root-cause approach to care. We start with detailed lab work to assess your:

• Cortisol and stress response

• Sex hormones

• Thyroid function

From there, we tailor a treatment plan to address imbalances and improve your ability to handle stress, not by eliminating stress from your life, but by helping your body become more resilient.

You can feel like yourself again. When hormones are balanced, patients often report:

• Better sleep

• Increased energy

• Stabilized mood

• Easier weight management

• Reduced menstrual issues

• Improved fertility

Whole-Person Wellness: Movement and Nutrition

We don’t stop at lab work. At Protea, we also offer:

• A movement studio with classes to support physical and mental well-being

• Nutrition services to ensure you're fueling your body with the nutrients your hormones need to function properly

These resources are here to support your full-body wellness, because managing stress requires more than just one solution.

Feeling overwhelmed? You’re not alone.
If this sounds like you, know that it’s something we see and support patients through every day. If you're ready to get to the root of your symptoms and feel better in your body, we’d love to help.

📞 Book an appointment today at Protea Medical Center and take the first step toward balance and relief.