Role of Exercise in Modulating Neuroendocrine Response to Psychological Stress

Abstract

Background: Psychological stress activate two axes: ‘Hypothalamic- Pituitary-Adrenal axis’ and ‘Sympathoadrenal axis’’ leading to production of cortisol and catecholamines. Raised level of morning cortisol is a measure of biochemical. disturbance induced in the body as a result of stress. Exercise normalizes cortisol response to stress. Study design: Experimental study. Setting: Islamic International Medical College from July 2014 to January 2015. Methods: Subjects were labeled as stressed and control on basis of DASS questionnaire proforma. Only stressed subjects were taken and Morning Cortisol level of all the subjects was measured by quantitative ELISA method. Subjects were then subjected to moderate exercise five days a week for a period of six weeks. After the completion of six weeks morning cortisol level were measured again. Results: Cortisol level was higher in the stressed subjects before exercise and there was significant reduction in morning cortisol level after exercise (p ≤ .000). Conclusion: Stress can lead to increase morning cortisol level. Exercise has a stress buffering effect and it lowers cortisol level in body in response to stress.