Why Hormones React to Stress First?

The Ipsos World Mental Health Day Survey 2024 stated that close to 53 % of urban Indians said that in the year past, they experienced stress to the extent that it impacted their daily lives. These statistics show we cannot take the matter of stress lightly. Here’s a look at ‘what is stress’ and how hormones are connected to the condition - both from the modern scientific lens and the Ayurvedic perspective.  

What Happens in the Body During Stress?

To understand this, we first need to know: What is stress? It is a response to physical or psychological stimuli that disrupts internal balance (homeostasis), triggering the body to gear up to face the perceived ‘threats’, resulting in a state of high tension.

‘Stress’ is therefore not a figment of imagination, nor is it just ‘a feeling’ - it is a biochemical reaction. When the brain is under pressure or stress of any kind, the adrenal glands release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. Within seconds, heart rate, blood sugar and energy shoot up in response to this ‘threat’. Prolonged stress keeps the ‘emergency’ hormones at a high level, triggering metabolic issues, compromised immunity and disturbed sleep.

Here’s how Ayurveda links hormones to stress: When manas (mind) becomes agitated, it disturbs the balance between doshas (internal bio-energies), leading to physiological issues, including hormonal imbalance. Vata Dosha (bio-energy governing movement) is particularly aggravated, along with rajas guna (quality of activity and restlessness). The latter triggers the classic manifestations of stress: anxiety, irritability and instability.

Ayurveda also lists shallow breathing, muscle tensions and digestive disturbances as fallouts of stress. The classical traditions also state that stress disturbs Samana Vata (digestion-regulating subtype of Vata) and Pachaka Pitta (digestive metabolic fire), leading to Vishama Agni (irregular or unstable digestion).

Nervous System Activation

When the brain perceives any threat, a series of events is set in motion: the amygdala (part of the brain that senses fear) signals the hypothalamus (which maintains internal balance and controls hormones), activating the sympathetic nervous system (SNS). This, in turn, leads to the adrenaline glands (a type of endocrine gland) releasing stress hormones.

In Ayurveda, stress is believed to be a condition caused by:

• Prana Vayu (a subtype of Vata that governs the brain) aggravation
• Vyana Vayu (subtype that governs circulation and heart rate) disturbance
• Udana Vayu (subtype governing speech and emotional expression) disturbance

Fight or Flight Response

The fight or flight response is the body’s survival reaction to a perceived threat. This is how the process unfolds: When the amygdala signals the hypothalamus, it activates two major systems.

The first is the Sympathetic-Adrenomedullary (SAM) System, activating immediate reaction, including:

• Adrenaline and noradrenaline release
• Increased heart rate
• Raised blood pressure
• Rapid breathing
• Blood redirected to muscles
• Increased blood glucose

The second system activated is the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis, which results in sustained response, including:

• Cortisol release
• Keeps up high levels of blood glucose
• Suppresses digestion and reproduction
• Reduces inflammation
• Modulates immune response

In Ayurvedic understanding, stress leads to similar states described as:

• Bhaya (fear)
• Chinta (worry)
• Shoka (grief)
• Ati-chintan (overthinking)

Ayurveda underlines that prolonged stress has a long-term impact, which includes:

• Depletion of Ojas (vital immunity essence)
• Irregular Agni (digestive/metabolic fire)
• Weakening of Dhatus (body tissues)
• Sattva Kshaya (reduction in mental clarity and stability)

What Are Stress Hormones?

Stress hormones may be described as ‘chemical messengers’ secreted by the endocrine system glands to cope with and restore internal balance that may be upset during stressful episodes.
Hormones released during stress include vasopressin (ADH) and growth hormone, but the three main stress hormones are listed below.

Cortisol

Which hormone is known as a stress hormone? The top answer is cortisol!

Functions:

• Increases blood glucose
• Suppresses non-essential functions (such as reproductive, digestive, and immunity)
• Reduces inflammation temporarily
• Supports alertness

Adrenaline

Adrenaline is a frontline hormone released rapidly with the onset of stress.

Functions:

• Increases heart rate
• Raises blood pressure
• Dilates airways
• Redirects blood to muscles

Noradrenaline

Another important stress hormone, this also contributes to responses.

Functions:

• Raises blood pressure
• Enhances alertness
• Sustains fight-or-flight responses

Why Hormones React Before Other Systems

Our systems are naturally geared to react with a fight-back mechanism in the face of imminent danger or perceived threat. Stress hormones in the human body act as the first line of defence.

Brain-Hormone Communication

The brain is the organ that perceives all physical and psychological events – internal and external. Different parts of the brain are aligned to perceive danger and activate defence mechanisms, including the secretion of stress hormones.

The amygdala detects danger; the hypothalamus activates the sympathetic nervous system and HPA axis; and finally, the pituitary signals the adrenal glands to release stress hormones.

Rapid Signalling Pathways

The messages are conveyed throughout the body through special pathways to trigger the right motor and mental reactions.

The ‘Fast Neural Pathway’ comprises electrical nerve impulses that trigger a reaction within seconds.

 The ‘Slower Hormonal Pathway’ helps hormones travel through the bloodstream and maintain prolonged stress responses.

How Stress Hormones Affect the Body

In the short term, stress hormones help in dealing with perceived threats/stress, but in the long term, they have harmful consequences.

Heart Rate

Stress hormones may lead to:

• Tachycardia – abnormal increase in heart rate
• Increased cardiac output – the heart pumps more blood per minute to supply the body with extra energy and oxygen

Blood Pressure

Stress hormones cause:

• Vasoconstriction
• Increased pumping strength
• Water retention

Digestion

During stress, stress hormones suppress digestion:

• Reduced blood flow to the gut
• Reduced enzyme secretion
• Slower motility

This can lead to digestive conditions such as loss of appetite, indigestion, bloating and IBS-like symptoms.

What Happens When Stress Hormones Stay High?

Chronic stress means stress hormones remain elevated for long periods. Modern effects of this condition include:

• Hypertension
• Insulin resistance
• Abdominal fat gain
• Anxiety and depression
• Sleep disturbances
• Gut inflammation
• Increased infections

Ayurvedically, prolonged stress causes:

• Vata aggravation
• Pitta increases
• Agni disturbance
• Ojas depletion

The Ayurvedic Perspective on Stress and Hormones

Ayurveda views stress as a mind-body imbalance involving doshas (bio-energies), agni (digestive fire) and ojas (essence of vitality)

Vata Imbalance

Vata Dosha aggravation mirrors rapid hormonal activation in stress.

Mind–Body Connection

When rajas (activity, restlessness, overstimulation) increases and sattva (clarity, balance, calmness) decreases, stress intensifies. Over time, tamas (inertia, heaviness, mental dullness) may lead to burnout.

How to Help the Body Regulate Stress Naturally

Modern de-stress solutions promise quick fixes, but side effects may not be ruled out. On the other hand, natural Ayurvedic practices to regulate stress have been prevalent for centuries and have been found to have highly successful outcomes – without harmful side effects.

Ayurveda recommends calming aggravated Vata Dosha; reducing Pitta; strengthening agni (digestive fire), and nurturing ojas (the essence of vitality) through the following practices.

Dhyana (meditation)

• Abhyanga (oil massage)
• Proper nidra (sleep)
• Balanced ahara (diet)
• Consumption of Rasayana herbs such as ashwagandha and brahmi