Stress as a risk factor for disease and illness

Stress

Each of us has our own share of experiences where we find ourselves unable to cope with normal responses. Sometimes, due to circumstances that push both of our minds and bodies to precisely act on things or to meet expectations, we tend to feel that we almost want to give up. Such example in our daily experiences is what we call stress.

Stress is a psychological imbalance, which, if regularly experienced, can affect the bodily functions and can cause drawbacks to one's health. A number of medical research and studies have reached findings explaining the relationship of stress to one's health. A number of negative effects that stress causes to our health were found to be dangerous if the frequency of stressful experiences is not controlled and minimized.

One explanation to the relationship and effect of stress to one's health is indicated in a Body Bulletin's article The Effects of Stress (2003).

The stresses you face in modern life are likely to be psychological -- due to circumstances like work pressure or troubled relationships. But the body reacts as though it were confronting a physical threat. Heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension all rises sharply; the stomach and intestines become disrupted; and blood sugar rises for quick energy. You may feel anxiety, even panic.

This paper is a research on the topic Stress and Disease. Its discussion will be focused on the relationship of stress to health, and how stress can be a risk factor to diseases. This paper will use information from conducted medical research and studies, as well as from available medical literatures. Throughout the discussion, this paper aims to provide information on the following subtopics.

The body's responses to stress

The effects of stress on immune functioning

The diseases caused/endangered by stress

Stress and Our Body

Many are unaware that the emotional stages caused by stress can affect the normal cycle of our body. Emotions such as depression, fear, or rage, can trigger our body's response system to divert into unhealthy activities. For instance, a depression caused by stress draws a person to smoke more, eat unhealthy foods, drink too much alcohol, and do other activities that can be harmful to health and body.

Several research and studies have been conducted to determine the physiological pathway of stress in our body. The aim is to design solutions and prevention treatments to ward off the negative effects of stress. An example of such study is one conducted by the UCLA (Washington Post, 2003). The study intends to provide information and clues on the bodily effects of stress. For instance, the study of UCLA found that shy people who have sensitive temperament are more likely to develop unconscious changes caused by stress such as accelerated heart rate (Washington Post, 2003).

Stress affects a number of response systems in our body. The way our response systems react to stress varies due to "organ specificity wherein emotional conflicts affect body organs and certain behaviors" (Danielson, 2000). Following is a brief discussion of the response systems affected by stress and how their cycles are influenced.

Muscle Response

Muscles are typically involved during stress experiences. They are used by our body whenever we exercise actions meant to lessen stress. According to Danielson, in his The Body's Response to Stress, muscle tension or muscles that continuously undergo stress may cause the following problems.

Pain from lack of blood due to closed blood vessels.

Pain from constant pressure on a joint

Pain from muscle tissue tears due to contraction

Pain from smooth muscle spasms

Gastrointestinal Response

Tebbe and her colleagues, in her Role of Stress in Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders, indicate that psychological stress affects the gastrointestinal system. Though this system is not directly playing a role in the fight or flight response (Danielson, 2003), studies have shown that it is a part of the stress response.

From Danielson's The Body's Response to Stress, the following are signs of gastrointestinal's reaction to stress.

Mouth - usually a saliva decrease

Esophagus - spastic contractions interfering with swallowing

Stomach - usually not hungry, sometimes pain, sometimes nausea; anger - increased

Secretion of HCL and enzymes; fright or depression - decreased secretion of HCL

Intestines - alteration in peristalsis

Too fast - diarrhea

Too slow - constipation

Cardiovascular Response

The cardiovascular response system is perhaps stress's most commonly affected body system. Especially when a person in stress has cardiovascular ailments such as heart disease and hypertensions, there is a higher rate that stress will negatively affect the body. The most common sign indicating that stress affects the cardiovascular system is the fast beating of the heart.

Researches indicate that relaxation is an effective remedy on the effects of stress on cardiovascular system. One of which is breathing exercises. This serves as a preventive measure that helps the cardiovascular system control high blood pressure and the effects of stress.

Stress and Related Diseases

The connection between illnesses and emotions has been studied by scientists that specialize in medical and psychological sciences. From recent research and studies, scientists have discovered the relation of emotions and behaviors with a number of diseases. Particular to this research, findings from related studies show that stress and diseases are medically linked and related.

Stress has been identified as a risk factor to physical and psychological illnesses such as depression, heart problems, cancer, chronic muscle tension, impaired digestive functions, and high blood pressures. According to studies, 75-90% of hospital visits are associated to stress-related disorders (Body Bulletin, 2003).

Normally, stress promotes unhealthy behaviors due to mood swings it causes. Such behaviors include unhealthy eating habits, alcoholism, smoking, etc. These behaviors, in turn, become risk factors to diseases. Cancer, heart disorders, and high blood pressures, are among the fatal illnesses that stress can largely affect. For heart disease, stress is not directly linked as the main cause should a stroke occurs. Other factors such as smoking and unhealthy eating habits are also considered.

Some studies associate stress with cancer. However, it is not yet scientifically and medically proven whether stress is a risk factor to cancer. 50th Health suggests that The suggestion that stress is linked to cancer is scientifically difficult to prove, as the disease is so complex. Many cancers take years to develop and it is not easy to ascertain exactly when the cancer started, making it difficult to establish whether stress played a role in its initiation. No clear link has been established

For other mild diseases and disorders, stress is medically recognized as a risk factor. Stress can cause psychological disorders such as depression and mood swings. Moreover, stress is a factor to gastrointestinal tracts such as ulcer and constipation.