Expert Discussion of Psychological Stress to Improve Health and Minimize Serious Illness Caused by Stress
2 Minute Read
Psychological stress wreaks havoc on your body and mind. For instance, chronic stress is related to increased risk for heart disease, depression and many infectious diseases. Consider how stress may affect your ability to fight off a virus like COVID-19. Until recently, however, it was unclear just how stress affects health and disease.
Stress Can Weaken the Immune System
Stress has always been present in our lives, whether we're aware of it or not. When we're faced with an immediate threat, we can respond immediately by increasing our heart rate, breathing harder, putting more physical effort into the task at hand, or some combination thereof. Psychologically-induced stress can cause similar physiological changes.
Disease and illness are caused by the interaction of a variety of biological and environmental factors. Stress can cause imbalances in the immune system that lead to a build-up of toxins in the body that can lead to sickness and disease. This buildup of toxins is usually harmful. A number of studies have shown that individuals who have chronic stress have increased levels of harmful bacteria, viruses and other organisms in their systems. In addition, chronic stress can reduce levels of antioxidants, which are necessary to fight off free radicals.
Physical symptoms associated with stress can include: headaches, nausea, stomach aches, difficulty breathing, excessive perspiration, and fatigue. In addition, physical symptoms caused by psychological stress can include: anxiety, irritability, insomnia, depression and anxiety.
Some studies have shown that when people undergo a stressful event, they experience an elevated heart rate and blood pressure. In addition, they experience a decrease in their ability to metabolize glucose. These physiological effects are known as "fight or flight" responses and occur when there is a perceived physical threat or when you are being threatened with a danger, injury or illness.
In a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers found that individuals with chronic stress often experience an increased risk of death from heart disease. The scientists suggest that this is due to an imbalance in the inflammatory response system in the body and increases the possibility of suffering from heart attack, stroke, and cardiac death. In fact, several studies have shown that individuals who are more stressed have a higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems.
Help for Stress
Some researchers suggest that stress can increase the risks of disease, especially if it interferes with individuals' healthy lifestyles, such as diet and exercise. When people suffer from chronic stress, they are less likely to be physically active. They are more likely to consume more unhealthy foods and drink too much alcohol, and smoke more cigarettes.
In recent years, psychologists and scientists have begun to study the links between stress and disease in an attempt to learn more about how psychological stress influences health and disease. Some studies have revealed that chronic stress can cause an elevated risk of certain types of cancers, such as cancer of the cervix, colorectal and prostate. However, studies still are ongoing on the link between psychological stress and HIV/AIDS. One study has even suggested that those suffering from heart disease may be more susceptible to the disease if they exhibit signs of emotional distress. It is unclear whether these findings are directly related to the stress, but the link is thought to be related to a reduced antioxidant activity in the body.
Psychological stress is linked to other health issues, such as digestive problems, headaches and irritability. If you find that your stress levels have increased over time, or that you find that you feel chronically irritable, you may be experiencing a form of stress. If you have experienced a loss, the stress may be related to your reaction to this experience.
A number of physical ailments can be a result of emotional stress. It can affect the heart, muscles, nervous system and immune system. Physical symptoms caused by psychological stress include: memory lapses, pain, exhaustion, dizziness and confusion.
If you are experiencing stress, it is important for you to recognize the symptoms. If you ignore these symptoms, the stress can continue to build up. As a result, it can lead to a wide range of health problems.
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