ABSTRACT
Stress is an integral part of our existence. Our stress systems alert and prepare us to deal with both short- and long-term challenges that lie ahead. The body’s two main stress systems typically work in association with each other, whereby the activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is followed shortly by the activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Chronic activations and dysregulations of each or both stress systems have been associated with a number of detrimental health outcomes such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke, along with impairments in cognitive processes such as learning and memory.
