We don’t realize it, but most of us live in conditions of almost constant stress. As the sound of the alarm clock snatches us from Morpheus’s arms until we try to fall into his arms again, we are often subject to different forms of stress that can affect us quite seriously.

In fact, chronic stress is a serious enemy of physiological balance and is one of the main triggers of diseases such as metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, some neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and chronic inflammation. Essentially, diseases whose origin is very much related to living habits.

Therefore, taking a break is important to reduce stress and cell damage in the body. The real question is, are we really resting on vacation? Or do we become more stressed when we are part of rushed stampedes, traffic jams, queues at airports, races to put umbrellas on the beach?

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side effects of stress

We constantly receive information from the outside, but also from the inside, in the form of sensory stimuli. This is how we know if we are hungry, thirsty, sleepy, in pain, or not.

Most of these sensations are due to nerve transmissions, but others are caused by our cells and organs releasing substances that give information to other cells and organs. We know these items as follows: local factors and hormones.

For example, when we need to react immediately to protect ourselves from danger, we release substances such as: adrenalin, norepinephrine and cortisol which activates organs to produce a rapid response that either stimulates us or allows us to escape directly.

These stress hormones demand a defensive or offensive response from our body that is essential for survival. We immediately notice symptoms such as dry mouth, sweaty hands, increased heart rate or headaches. The problem is that we generally get stressed at the office, on the couch, at home, at the supermarket, and even when chatting with friends. In these situations, our bodies receive signals of danger, but our muscles and organs do not respond (we do not fight or flee).

When this “contradiction” persists over time, it causes serious problems. Chronic stress keeps our cells in a state of constant activation that produces molecular and cellular damage, chronic inflammatory responses, and a host of side effects that affect our health.

Solution? Accept life with some peace.

Necessary relaxation: the effect of endorphins and other hormones

Rest and relaxation have more than proven beneficial effects on cells. For now, the scientific evidence shows that rest and restorative sleep help remove accumulated damage to them and restore natural sleep and wake rhythms.

this melatonin or “sleep hormone” plays an important role in this, because it activates the destruction of damaged cellular structures. This prevents the accumulation of cell wastes and prevents the progression of neuronodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

On the other hand, a pleasant holiday liberates our body. endorphins. Known as the “happiness hormones,” these are tiny proteins that stimulate the centers of pleasurable emotions in the brain. They are considered endogenous opioids and our neurons release them when we are relaxed, happy, and when we exercise. Although the molecular effects of these neurotransmitters are not entirely clear, some evidence suggests that they may prevent the progression of neurodegenerative diseases.

Another neurotransmitter released when we relax, serotonin, another substance also known as the “happiness hormone”. Its deficiency has been associated with multiple diseases, particularly chronic fatigue, as well as dementia or the severity of covid-19.

Holidays improve health

Considering all these factors, it is important to enjoy a comfortable holiday that takes us away from daily stress and to restore the physiological balance that allows us to protect our health.

It simply lowers the levels of stress hormones, increasing those that provide pleasure and relaxation, while helping cells remove accumulated damage over time and prevent multiple diseases. You don’t need to go to exotic places or dream of beaches: just put the pressures aside, relax and enjoy without worry. We gain a lot in health with this, and our cells appreciate it.

And when the vacation is over, it doesn’t hurt to keep in mind how good a well-organized rest is for our body.

Guillermo López Lluch is a professor of Cell Biology. Assistant researcher at the Andalusian Center for Developmental Biology. Researcher on metabolism, aging and immune systems and antioxidants, Pablo de Olavide University

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original.