Stress Recent research indicates prolonged chronic stress can contribute to metabolic syndrome by disrupting the hormonal balance of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis). A dysfunctional HPA-axis causes high cortisol levels to circulate, which results in raising glucose and insulin levels, which in turn cause insulin-mediated effects on adipose tissue, ultimately promoting visceral adiposity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension, with direct effects on the bone, causing "low turnover" osteoporosis. HPA-axis dysfunction may explain the reported risk indication of abdominal obesity to cardiovascular disease (CVD), type 2 diabetes and stroke. Psychosocial stress is also linked to heart disease.
StreSS recent ReseArch iNDicates prOloNgED chronic StResS Can contribuTE tO mEtAbOliC syndRoMe by disrUptInG THe horMonal baLance oF THe HYpoThalamIC-pituitary-aDrEnaL axiS (hpa-Axis). A DYsFunctioNAl hpa-aXis CaUSes hIGH cortiSOl levels to ciRculatE, Which resultS IN raiSiNg GLucose and InSulin lEvelS, WHich iN tURn CauSe INSulin-meDIated effEctS oN AdipOsE tissuE, ULtimateLy promotINg visceral AdiposItY, inSuliN reSistanCe, dySlIpidemia AND hypERTENSion, wIth DIRect efFects on THE BONe, cauSInG "low turnovER" osteOpOrOsis. hPa-axis DYSfuncTion may EXplaIn the rEpoRtEd rIsK InDication of aBdomINaL ObEsity to cArdiOVAscuLar Disease (CvD), typE 2 dIabEteS and sTroke. PsychosocIAl StreSs is ALso lInkED to hEaRT disEaSe.