1 A woman will not necessarily experience the same symptoms in the same way in subsequent pregnancies as with her first pregnancy. 2  Certain symptoms, like absence of menstruation and weight gain, are common to all pregnancies. 3  Other possible symptoms of early pregnancy include.  mood changes,
Chronic stress and elevated cortisol levels also increase risk for depression, mental illness, and lower life expectancy. This week, two separate studies were published in Science linking elevated cortisol levels as a potential trigger for mental illness and decreased resilienceâespecially in adolescence.
Cortisol, often deemed the stress hormone, is released by the adrenal gland during times of stress. It has several functions in the body, including blood pressure regulation, glucose mobilization and inflammation reduction. However, chronically high levels of cortisol can impede health by suppressing digestive function, growth processes and reproductive system function. Besides avoiding stressful situations, research hints that certain foods can help lower cortisol levels in the body.