Comprehending Stress and Hormones
Stress triggers the “fight-or-flight” response, a survival tool that trains the body to react to risk. During this reaction, the adrenal glands release cortisol and adrenaline, hormones that allow the body to react quickly.
While short-term focus can be useful in emergencies, chronic stress induces long-term hormonal disorders. Prolonged cortisol production, in certain, interferes with other hormones, leading to fatigue, weight gain, mood changes, and even sexual dysfunction.
For men, the immediate problem is the result of stress on testosterone, the male sex hormone liable for libido, muscle mass, bone thickness, and energy levels. As cortisol rises, testosterone tends to fall, causing a hormonal imbalance.