Stress and disease

Despair often breeds disease ~ Sophocles

 

The translation of emotional distress to physiological change, and thence to a physical symptom is known as 'transduction'. In transduction, a situation is perceived, a meaning is assigned to it, an emotional response is elicited and a physiological reaction results. A complex auto immune facilitates this. When most of us think of the physical effects of stress, our minds jump to common complaints like headaches and upset stomachs. Stress, however, can affect many aspects of physical and mental health, ranging from hair, teeth, and skin to memory and concentration skills, and even how well we sleep. Psychosomatic refers to a disorder having physical symptoms but originating from mental or emotional causes. Also relating to or concerned with the influence of the mind on the body, and the body on the mind, especially with respect to disease. The good news is while these problems may seem serious, stress relief can lead to real improvements in your overall health and well-being.

 

In some diseases, stress is the main factor and in some stress is one of the contributors. Some of the stress related diseases are acid peptic disease, alcoholism, fatigue, asthma, tension headaches, hypertension, irritable bowel syndrome, insomnia, ischemic heart disease, psychoneurosis, depression, sexual dysfunction, skin disorders. This list is not complete. There are many more diseases and disorders linked to stress. The above is just to give you an idea of the possibility of illness caused due to stress. Many of the effects of stress on mind and body are due to increased sympathetic nervous system activity and an outpouring of adrenaline, cortisol and other stress-related hormones. Certain types of chronic and more insidious stress due to loneliness, poverty, bereavement, depression and frustration due to discrimination are associated with impaired immune system resistance to viral linked disorders ranging from the common cold and herpes to AIDS and cancer. Stress can have effects on other hormones, brain neurotransmitters and additional small chemical messengers elsewhere.

 

Some common problems due to stress which affect our everyday are:

Forgetfulness: We all have our moments of not being able to find our car keys, but research shows that the more stress we are under, the more frequent these mental lapses may become. In fact, not only can long-term stress (over a period of weeks or months) disrupt communication between brain cells, but even several hours of acute stress can affect the brain’s ability to store information and create solid memories. For many people, frequent bouts of forgetfulness can lead to fears about Alzheimer’s disease. But before jumping to conclusions, take a step back and consider whether any chronic stress in your life may be playing a role in memory issues.

Hair loss: Some amount of hair loss is normal — strands fall out over time and get replaced by new ones. However, when you’re under physical or emotional stress the normal shedding of 100 or so hairs a day can speed up to the point where half to three-quarters of your hair can fall out. Often stress-induced hair loss may not happen right away. In fact, it may take weeks or months after the stressful event for the hair to actually shed. Fortunately, after six to eight months this type of hair loss often improves.

 

Teeth : Regular brushing, flossing, and dental check-ups - most of us are well-versed in what it takes to keep our teeth healthy. But how many of us realize that the effects of stress can impact dental health? During the day and even while sleeping, people under stress may clench their teeth or grind them back and forth against one another. This action, called bruxism, can not only wear down and damage your teeth, but may also cause joint problems, leading to severe jaw and neck pain.

Skin disorder : Our internal thoughts and feelings can actually affect our external appearance. This is particularly true when it comes to stress. One of the effects of stress is skin that’s more sensitive to irritants. Stress can worsen pre-existing conditions including rosacea, psoriasis, and acne, as well as dehydrate the skin, permitting allergens, bacteria, and pollutants to irritate it.

Substance abuse : For individuals struggling with alcohol or drugs, stress can wreak havoc on efforts to remain substance-free. Even for people who have abstained for a long time, stress can play a significant role in contributing to a relapse. Interestingly, not only can stress in adulthood contribute to substance abuse, but experiencing a severe psychosocial stressor during childhood can also increase your risk for drug or alcohol abuse as an adult.

Sexual problems : The effects of stress can extend to the bedroom. While most men may experience erectile dysfunction from time to time, when it happens frequently, its underlying cause should be investigated. Causes of erectile dysfunction can include diabetes, high blood pressure, side effects of certain medications, and chronic stress. Stress can also contribute to a loss of sexual desire in both men and women.

Concentration : Bad news for stressed-out students cramming for exams — it turns out that being under pressure can affect how well our brains work. Students studying for a board exam will have more trouble focusing their attention than others who were not stressed. Studies show a month after the stressful period was over, the stressed group’s mental skills return to normal.

Reduced immunity : Excessive stress and anxiety can lead to reduced immunity and an increased chance of getting sick. This link between stress and the body’s ability to fight disease may go all the way back to childhood. Researchers have found that adolescents who were abused or experienced other, intensely stressful situations as children were less able to ward off certain infections even years later. It’s crucial to keep daily stress under control as much as possible to offset the effects of past stress and encourage good health in the present.

Insomnia : Few things are as frustrating as lying awake in bed, unable to sleep. While insomnia can stem from a variety of sources, one to consider is stress. Stress can cause a number of sleep-related issues including trouble falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, and poor-quality sleep. Try to get stress relief through regular exercise, enjoyable hobbies, and spending time with loved ones.

 

The immune system and brain are constantly in communication. When we are sick, the immune system like little soldiers, move forward to battle. The immune cells also cause our brain to change its functions and there is an entire set of behaviours that get induced called sickness behaviour. The signalling molecules of the immune system also activate the part of the brain that controls stress response. This complete communications cycle from the immune system to the brain and back again allows the immune system to talk to the brain, and the brain to then talk back and shut down the immune response when it's no longer needed. So, if you're chronically stressed, the part of the brain that controls the stress response is going to be constantly pumping out a lot of stress hormones. The immune cells are being bathed in molecules which are essentially telling them to stop fighting. And so in situations of chronic stress your immune cells are less able to respond to an invader like a bacteria or a virus. If you have too much stress hormone shutting down the immune response, you can't fight off infection and you're more susceptible to infection. Too little stress hormones and the immune response goes on unchecked and you could get an inflammatory disease. Coping with stress means being able to deal with the demands that life throws at us. To cope with stress we need to make conscious efforts to gather sufficient resources to meet these demands. The coping response mainly depends upon what a person believes and practices. It is an on going process. Please feel free to add in comments related to the topic. If you have been through something similar and would like to share it, please do.