As the last page of summer vacation draws to a close, many children start to "stay up late to catch up on homework" and say, "With a pen, a lamp, and a person, create a myth." The air is no longer filled with the sweetness of freedom, but with a subtle mixture of anxiety and tension. What "stress signals" should children and parents be alert to before the start of school? How to overcome the 'back to school syndrome'? Professor Yang Hui from the Department of Gastroenterology at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University provided an answer. What "stress signals" should children and parents be alert to before the start of school? For children, on nights when the ocean of homework is overwhelming, their bodies quietly release a symphony of stress hormones - cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are not only accelerators of heartbeat and drivers of blood pressure, but also silently engage in a 'secret battle' with our digestive system. The environmental transformation of returning to school, especially in a relatively strict learning atmosphere, often constitutes an implicit source of stress for children. This pressure and the negative emotions derived from it sometimes exceed the scope of children's own emotional recognition and expression abilities. In the absence of mature psychological adjustment mechanisms, children may reflect their inner discomfort and anxiety through physical symptoms. Specific manifestations may include gastrointestinal reactions such as nausea and vomiting, or central nervous system reactions such as dizziness, headache, and even non-specific symptoms such as palpitations, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain. These manifestations together constitute the physical and mental response patterns of children when facing adaptive challenges. For adults, another red stress "warning" signal that also needs attention is irritable bowel syndrome. Experts say that in the professional field of clinical medicine, the association between emotional fluctuations and gastrointestinal dysfunction is precisely defined as one of the core manifestations of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The persistent presence of anxiety, tension, and stress not only constructs complex stress patterns at the psychological level, but also directly "talks" to the intestines, inducing a series of digestive symptoms, including but not limited to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation. If you feel like going to the bathroom at a critical moment, then you may be facing the challenge of irritable bowel syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome can manifest as abdominal pain, bloating, changes in bowel habits, abnormal bowel movements, and mucous stools. It generally occurs between the ages of 20 and 50, and is more common in females compared to males. In addition, irritable bowel syndrome often accompanies other gastrointestinal functional disorders, such as functional dyspepsia. This disease can seriously interfere with the patient's work, study, daily life, and mental health when it occurs, reducing the overall quality of life of the patient. How to overcome the 'back to school syndrome'? Experts suggest that if a child develops "back to school syndrome", there is no need to be overly nervous. Instead, a calm mindset should be maintained to increase the child's sense of security, so as not to transmit their anxiety and tension to the child and exacerbate their anxiety. At the same time, positive guidance and lifestyle adjustments should be actively provided to the child. 1. Plan the homework time capsule reasonably, break down the homework into small tasks, and avoid last-minute panic. A regular schedule and sufficient sleep can help maintain overall health of the body and may reduce the occurrence of symptoms. Parents can help their children proactively understand the upcoming courses for the new semester, develop a reasonable semester study plan, and set feasible short-term and long-term goals, which can help alleviate anxiety and improve learning outcomes. 2. Practice deep breathing or meditation during quiet moments of breathing and meditation to relax the body and reduce the secretion of stress hormones. It is recommended that children use this time to adjust their sleep schedule one week before the start of the school year, advance their biological clock by 1-2 hours, gradually adapt to the rhythm of getting up early and going to bed early, and reduce the time spent playing with electronic devices to ensure sufficient sleep. 3. Guarding a healthy diet: Maintain a balanced diet, avoid greasy or stimulating foods, and create a friendly environment for the intestines. Pay attention to a balanced diet and eat more fiber rich foods. 4. The pleasure hormone of exercise: Exercise helps to release stress and regulate physical and mental states. Parents can appropriately accompany their children to engage in outdoor activities, exercise their bodies, enhance their physical fitness, and improve their ability to withstand pressure. 5. Emotional expression gardens encourage children to share their concerns with family or friends, as expressing oneself is a form of release. Learn to have a correct understanding of academic tasks, interpersonal relationships, and other challenges, maintain a positive attitude, and believe that you can overcome difficulties. (New Society)