How Stress Affects the Body

Health Psychology
Health Psychology is a new field in psychology that studies the role of
psychological in the promotion of health and the prevention of illness. It is
the study of the relationship between psychological behavior and physical
health and illness, with an emphasis on wellness and the prevention of
illness. Health psychologist studies how people’s lifestyle and activities’
emotional reactions, ways of interpreting events, and personality
characteristic influence their physical health (Huffman et al., 2000).

Health psychology has grown so rapidly that even clinical

psychologists, traditionally concerned with the treatment of psychological
disorders, now conduct more research in health psychology than in any other
area (Sayette and Mayne, 1990). Health psychologists favor a
biopsychological model of health and illness, which emphasizes the
interaction of biological, and psychological, and social factors.

In contrast, the traditional biomedical model emphasizes biological

factors and neglects psychological and social ones. In other words, the chief
topics of interest to health psychologists are the relationship between stress
and illness, the modification of health- impairing habits, and the promotion of
adaptive reactions to illness (Krantz, Grunberg, and Baum, 1985).

Research on stress and illness has done much to focus attention on

how social, environmental, and behavioral factors affect health. This work fits
nicely with evidence gathered during the 1970s that certain behaviors
increase the risk of illness. Survey studies showed, for example, that
smoking cigarettes, eating a high – cholesterol or high – salt diet, and getting
too little exercise are important risk factors for heart disease, stroke, cancer,
emphysema, and other serious illnesses (Bernstein et al., 1991).

It has been estimated that 50 percent to 70 percent of deaths from

America’s leading killer (including heart disease, cancer, stroke, auto
accidents, diabetes and cirrhosis of the liver) are attributable to unhealthy
behavior patterns (Hamburg, Elliot a Parron, 1982; Lawrence, 1989). Thus, it
seems that causes of death have shifted from diseases caused by infection ti
diseases that are sensitive to behavior and lifestyle.
Stress Defined
Hans Selye (1907 – 1982), a Canadian endocrinologist and founder of
modern stress research, defines stress as the physiological response of the
body to physical and psychological demands, the nonspecific response of the
body to any demand made on it. Such a demands are known as stressors or
any stimulus that causes stress. It is the process of adjusting to our dealing
dealing with circumstances that disrupts or threatens a person’s physical or
psychological functioning (Burchfield, 1979; Lazarus and Folk man, 1984;
Selye 1976).

The reactions to such process is called stress reaction; the physical,

psychological, and behavioral responses such as nausea, nervousness, and fatigue
that people display in the face of a stressor.

Though stress has been implicated as a factor in illness, some degree of

stress is normal, necessary, and unavoidable. As Selye noted, “complete freedom
from stress is death” (Selye, 1980, 128). Stress acts as motivator to make us adjust
our behavior to meet changing demands, as when we review for an upcoming
exam, or go to a Karaoke bar to sing when lonely. Stress can even be pleasurable,
as when we are visited by a new friend, or play “Counter Strike” in a computer nook
somewhere. An unpleasant stress refers to distress and pleasant stress eustress
(from the Greek for “good stress “by Selye).

Pathway of Stress: How Health is affected

Stressor produce a wide variety of psychological responses that begin in the

throughout the body. Chronic stress can lead to physical disorder such as
ulcer, high blood pressure, and heart disease. It may also impair the immune
system, decreasing the body’s ability to fight invading bacteria and viruses.
Indeed, doctors estimate that emotional stress plays an important role in
more than half of all medical problems (Atkinson et al., 2000). These are
known as Psycho physiological disorders.

Psycho physiological disorder is physical disorders in which emotions

are believed to play a central role. A common misconception is that people
with psycho physiological disorders are not really sick and do not need
medical attention. On the contrary, these symptoms of psycho physiological
illness reflect physiological disturbances associated with tissue damage and
pain; a peptic ulcer caused by stress is in distinguishable from an ulcer
caused by a factor unrelated to stress, such as long term heavy usage of
aspirin (2000).

Note that the body’s physiological response to a stressor may have a

direct, negative effect on physical health if it is maintained for a long period.
Long term over arousal of the sympathetic system or the adrenal- cortical
system can cause damage to arteries and organ systems. Stress may also
have a direct effect on the immune system’s ability to fight off disease. Over
arousal caused by chronic stressors may contribute to coronary heart
disease.

Role of the immune System

A relatively new area of research in behavioral medicine is

psychoneuroimmunology, the study that examines the interaction of
psychological and physiological processes that effect the body’s ability to
defend itself against diseases; how the body’s immune system is affected by
stress and other psychological variables.

The immune system is the body’s first line of defense against

invading substances and microorganism. Impaired functioning of the
immune increases vulnerability to colds, mononucleosis, and many
other infections (Jemmott and Locke, 1984; Jemmott and Magloire,
1988; Tecoma and Huey, 1985).

Evidence from a number of areas suggests that stress affects the

immune system’s ability to defend the body (Taylor, 1999). One study
indicates that the common belief that we are more likely to catch a cold
when we are under stress is probably correct (Cohen, TyrelSS, and Smith,
1991).

Stress. It is the response to events that are threatening or challenging. It is a

condition of extreme and prolonged psychological tension. “Stress is the rate
of wear and tear within the body”. Stress is a non-specific response our body
makes to any demand placed upon it. That is to say, when our body is
excited- regardless of the situation- it gets excited in the same way. This
response is physiological and psychological, and consists of gastrointestinal,
cardiovascular, and glandular changes. Stress affects our whole body, not
just part of it. Stress is not simply nervous tension. At times, we experience
too, much of it for too long time a period. Hans Selye (Janelle Barlow, 1996),
the medical doctor who introduced the concept of stress and health to the
world, points out, “The goal is not to avoid stress. Stress is a part of life. It is
a natural product of all out activities….”

How Does Stress Affect Health?

The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping
us alert and ready to avoid danger. Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous
challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges. As a result, the person becomes
overworked and stress-related tension builds.
Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress -- a negative stress
reaction. Distress can lead to physical symptoms including headaches, upset stomach, elevated
blood pressure, chest pain, and problems sleeping. Research suggests that stress also can bring
on or worsen certain symptoms or diseases.
Stress also becomes harmful when people use alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to try and relieve their
stress. Unfortunately, instead of relieving the stress and returning the body to a relaxed state,
these substances tend to keep the body in a stressed state and cause more problems. Consider the
following:
• Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress.
• Seventy-five percent to 90% of all doctor's office visits are for stress-related ailments and
complaints.
• Stress can play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart
problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) declared stress a hazard of
the workplace. Stress costs American industry more than $300 billion annually.
• The lifetime prevalence of an emotional disorder is more than 50%, often due to chronic,
untreated stress reactions.

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Tips for Reducing Stress

If you are one of the millions of stressed-out Americans, there's good news. People can learn to
manage stress. Start with these stress management tips:
• Keep a positive attitude.
• Accept that there are events that you cannot control.
• Be assertive instead of aggressive. "Assert" your feelings, opinions, or beliefs
instead of becoming angry, defensive, or passive.
• Learn and practice relaxation techniques.
• Exercise regularly. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit.
• Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
• Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful
events.
• Don't rely on alcohol or drugs to reduce stress.
• Seek out social support.
• Learn to manage your time more effectively.

• Jobs and The Workplace

• Financial Problems
• Personal Relationships
• Children
• Daily Hassles / Being Too Busy
• In 1967, Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe, from the University of Washington,
did a study on the connection between significant life events and illness. As part of that
study, they compiled a chart of the major causes of stress. That chart, which contained 43
causes of stress in 1967, was updated to 55 causes in 2006. Apparently, society is finding
more causes to feel stressed.
• If you knew the leading causes of stress in your life, would you take action to eradicate
them? Can you eradicate stress - or is it an inoperable condition that will be with you all
of your life, possibly causing your eventual death?
• Which Is Your Leading Cause of Stress?
• 1. Finances
• Most studies agree that finances are a leading cause of stress. In an online poll conducted
in 2005 by LifeCare, Inc., 23 percent of respondents named finances as the leading cause
of stress in their lives. Financial stress has led the list in many modern polls.
• Some who name finances as the leading cause of stress cite major purchases they have to
make, such as a home or car. Others are stressed by a loss of income, or mounting credit
card debt. For some, financial stress will eventuate in bankruptcy. While college students
stress over paying for an education, Baby Boomers and older senior citizens find that
retirement income can be a major cause of stress.
• 2. Work
• Closely tied to finances as a cause of stress is work. Our jobs or careers seem to cause
constant stress. In the LifeCare poll, 21 percent of those responding listed this as the
leading cause of stress in life.
• How is the workplace a cause of stress? We worry about getting and keeping adequate
employment. We worry about new types of work or new responsibilities. We struggle to
climb a career ladder, overwhelmed by the demands. Work conditions may change, or we
may have interpersonal trouble at work. Students, especially teenagers and college age
students, cite school work as a cause of stress. Sometimes, work stress is brought on by
others. Sometimes, we bring it on ourselves.
• 3. Family
• Family, wonderful though each member may be, is also a leading cause of stress.
Arguments erupt with a spouse or other family member. Parents divorce. Children marry.
The ebb and flow of family life is filled with stress. A child moves out - an aging parent
moves in.
• Family health is also a leading cause of stress. A sick family member, a serious injury,
pregnancy, miscarriage, or abortion all cause stress. Family changes of other kinds bring
stress, too. Adoption, relocation, and job changes for just one family member can cause
stress for all.
• 4. Personal Concerns
• Personal concerns that are only indirectly created by others are another top cause of
stress. Lack of control tops the list of personal concerns. Every human has a deep-seated
desire for control over his or her own life. When control is weak or missing in a given
area, we experience stress. To many people, a lack of control over their own time is a
leading cause of stress. We want to determine when we do tasks around the home, or at
work. Holding a job, participating in the children's carpool to school, driving family to
 soccer practices, shopping, and scout meetings while trying to keep the household
running can create major stress. You would like to control your time, rather than let
others' demands control it, but that is not always possible.
• We may be involved in legal proceedings that cause stress. We may be wrestling with a
bad habit. We may be going through changes. Personal change of any kind can be a cause
of stress.
• 5. Personal Health and Safety
• Most people find that personal health is a leading cause of stress. For some, the stress is
linked to obesity, and a desire to lose weight. For others, the stress is a personal bas habit
that affects health and must be changed. For example, smoking, abuse of alcohol or other
drugs. Illness or injury, whether less or more serious, can be a leading cause of stress for
many people. Incontinence can be an ongoing concern. Personal health is more or less
stressful according to the degree of seriousness and our personal outlook on health.
• Personal safety is also a leading cause of stress. Women, more than men, tend to stress
about their own and others' safety. Adults tend to stress more than young people, who
may act invincible. Crime is a factor, as is
• 6. Personal Relationships
• Whether it is a friendship, dating, separation, marriage, divorce, or re-marriage, a
relationship can be a leading cause of stress for many. We all want love, and that is
potentially available in relationships, but getting from A to B can be very stressful. Some
resort to online relationships that are easier to handle. Others withdraw and become
recluses. Either way, the demands on time, finances, and emotions can cause ongoing
stress.
• 7. Death
• Probably the most wrenching cause of stress is the death of a loved one or close friend.
Even the death of a pet can be stressful. Children are always a source of stress for
parents, but when a child dies, the stress is overwhelming. The same is true when a
lifetime spouse passes on.
• Win or Lose
• Causes of stress change as we age. The stressed child who threw tantrums becomes a
young student, stressed by the school bully. The young student becomes a teenager,
stressed by acne, hormones, and dating. The teenager becomes a young adult trying to
handle the stresses of leaving home, adjusting to college life, and managing finances. Life
progresses to first jobs, marriage, children, and so on. Even if you move to a secluded
cabin in the woods, stress will follow you.
• Gaining knowledge of the leading causes of stress is important. Using that knowledge to
win over unhealthy stress is vital.
©2007, Anna Hart. Anna brings to her writing her professional training and
expertise as an educator. When she writes at http://www.stressmanagementblog.com
about a leading cause of stress, she does so from well-conducted research. Anna
invites you to read more on her blog about the causes of family stress.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anna_Hart

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