Effects of Stress on Health – Anxiety

The mind and the body act on each other in remarkable ways. Recent research indicates that the immune system is in direct contact with, and under at least partial control of, the part of the brain that is physiologically reactive to emotions. Therefore, there may be a biological link between emotions and disease and even death. Mortality is three times higher in people with few close relationships, while people with strong support groups have additional protection against life’s stressors. Mortality rates are higher for cancer patients with pessimistic attitudes. The disease is most common among people who feel locked into conflict-ridden marriages. On the contrary, AIDS patients with healthy psyches seem better able to bear the disease.

Any stressful situation takes its toll on the human body. Stress can be a major enemy of overall health and a major contributor to disease. Because stress affects the immune system, the body becomes more susceptible to a multitude of foods, from colds to cancer. Respiratory conditions, such as asthma, may worsen. The cardiovascular system reacts by constricting blood vessels while increasing blood volume. The net result is an increase in blood pressure throughout a stressful day. Multiple increases in blood pressure can eventually contribute to chronic high blood pressure. A more forceful contraction of the heart raises the levels of free fatty acids, which improves the development of clogged arteries that lead to and include the heart itself. In extreme cases, sudden death can occur, especially if a person has been experiencing high levels of uncontrolled stress for a long period of time.

Headaches, including migraines, have long been associated with stress. Tension headaches are caused by involuntary contractions of the muscles of the scalp, head, and neck. The typical muscle reaction to stress is contraction or tension. When chronic stress occurs, the body reacts by being constantly ready to respond and the muscles are getting stronger, or always in a state of tension. More stress magnifies the tension that the muscles are already experiencing. Increased muscle tension manifests itself in headaches, back pain, neck pain, and other pain. The smooth muscles that control the internal organs also experience pain. Stronger contractions can cause stomach pain, diarrhea, hypertension, heartburn, gastritis, diarrhea, bloating, inflammation of the pancreas, and obstruction of the bile ducts.

Stress decreases saliva in the mouth, which often makes speaking uncomfortable. Swallowing can become difficult, and increased stomach acids contribute to ulcer pain. People tend to perspire more and electrical currents are transmitted faster through the skin. Skin conditions such as acne, psoriasis, herpes, hives, and eczema are exacerbated.

Stress also appears to affect the body’s nutritional status and the immune response to disease. Individual nutritional patterns can also influence stress management efforts. For example, eating too much or too little, eating the wrong kinds of food, and abusing products such as caffeine or alcohol disrupt homeostasis. Diets high in fat, sugar, and processed foods place a heavy burden on various bodily systems. Eating too few calories can lead to the breakdown of lean tissue. To cope with the demands of stress, adequate nutrition must be maintained through a balanced and varied diet.

Ultimately, no body system is immune to the effects of stress. The long-term presence of certain stress-associated hormones in the brain damages the receptors and cells found in the hippocampus. (The hippocampus sends messages when stress occurs.) Because brain cells do not regenerate, these cells are lost forever. The effects of this loss are unknown, but indications are that humans eventually become less able to respond to stress appropriately, providing guidelines for identifying stress style and suggesting relaxation activities.