When confronted by a threat - physical or emotional, real or imagined - the hypothalamus causes the sympathetic nervous system to release epinephrine and norepinephrine (also known as adrenaline and noradrenaline) and other related hormones. When these hormones are released into the body, these messengers propel you into a state of arousal (your metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure, breathing rate and muscle tension all increase).

How does stress affect my body and my health?

Both short-term and long-term stress can have negative or serious effects on your body. Various stress triggers can also cause changes in our bodies and make us more likely to get sick. It can also make problems we already have worse. It can play a part in these problems: