In: Psychology
What is the sympathetic nervous system and what is it designed for? Explain what switching it on does to our bodies and how this combines with modern day life to cause health problems
Being a part of the nervous system, it regulates or controls the involuntary functions of the body. You can say it is the process that you do not control with purpose. There are 2 basic segments: Parasympathetic [ assist you with normal situations] & Sympathetic [ In a stressful situation, there is the physiological change that body witness to cope with circumstances].
E.g you are driving with family in an isolated dark road, suddenly you see speeding car started driving parallel to you. Your body starts to respond with a faster heartbeat, sweating. Therefore, the Sympathetic nervous system gives an added advantage, beyond normal capabilities, to survive and sail through the situation.
Whenever an emergency arrives, the body releases Norepinephrine and epinephrine in response to the situation, called adrenalin rush. These hormones help the body to cope with the situation to its fullest.