Stress is a major factor affecting most Law Enforcement Officer’s and there are many unknown facts concerning stress that you should be aware of. Stress is strongly tied to cardiac disease, hypertension, inflammatory diseases, and compromised immune systems, and possibly to cancer. The hormone cortisol is responsible for a lot of these ill effects. Elevated cortisol gives us a short-term boost, but also suppresses the immune system, elevates blood sugar, and impedes bone formation. While it is a myth that stress can turn hair gray, stress can cause hair loss. In fact, telogen effluvium (hair loss) can begin up to three months after a stressful event. Stress alters the neurochemical makeup of the body, which can affect the maturation and release of the human egg. Stress can also cause the fallopian tubes and uterus to spasm, which can affect implantation. Stress in men can affect sperm count and motility and can cause erectile dysfunction. In fact, stress may account for 30% of all infertility problems. When cells shrink due to exposure to stress hormones, they disconnect from each other, which contributes to depression. We all know that stress is an unpleasant part of life, but there are far more serious issues that can be caused by stress, which is why stress management is so important for Law Enforcement Officer’s.
