Stress hormones are associated with which of the following health issues?

• A. Cancer
• B. Metabolic syndrome
• C. Gastrointestinal ulcers
• D. Allergies

Answer: (B)

Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline regulate how the body uses energy and glucose. When stress is chronic, these hormones stay elevated and drive increased glucose production, reduced insulin sensitivity, and more fat accumulation around the abdomen. Over time, this combination contributes to metabolic syndrome, which is the cluster of risk factors including high fasting glucose, central obesity, abnormal lipid levels, and high blood pressure. The other health issues involve different primary drivers—for example, ulcers are mainly caused by H. pylori or NSAID use (with stress sometimes modulating symptoms), allergies hinge on immune system hypersensitivity, and cancer involves complex biological pathways beyond the direct, ongoing influence of stress hormones.