The Effects of StressOn the Body

A little stress can be good for everyone, but when you are constantly under pressure, the effects can be dangerous. I was reading an article in WebMD, about the causes of stress and the effects it has on your body. Stress is caused by being overwhelmed with responsibilities, the risk of losing a job and/or facing discrimination or harassment at work, losing a loved one, divorce, an increase of financial burdens, illness and/or injury, and emotional problems. The fear or uncertainty of a situation or event may also cause a person stress because he/she is not in control. How you view and respond to situations can determine your level of stress, and can lead to negative long-term effects.

When you are faced with a stressful situation that is temporary, your nervous system creates its own defense mechanism called "fight or flight". The fight-or-flight response is a reaction that occurs in response to a perceived harmful event, attack, or threat, which prepares your body to either fight or flee. Symptoms due to stress can affect your body, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Uncontrolled stress, can account for many health problems, such as, upset stomach, weight gain or loss, changes in sex drive, problems with fertility, headache, muscle tension, chest pain, fatigue, skin problems, and sleep disorders. The effects that stress can have on a person’s mood is restlessness, lack of motivation and/or focus, feelings of being overwhelmed, irritability, anger, and depression. The effects of stress on one’s behavior is, overeating or undereating, drug or alcohol abuse, and withdrawal or isolation from others. But if stress persist for some time, it can be harmful, causing, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, hardening of the arteries, anxiety, diabetes, heart disease, heart attack, asthma and/or arthritis. And according to an article I read in the Huffington Post, “Stress Health Effects: 10 Scary Things It’s Doing to Your Body”, by Amanda L. Chan, a new study from Yale University claims, “stress can cause the brain to shrink and/or damage the brain by reducing gray matter in regions tied to emotion and physiological functions”.

According to WebMD, “Managing stress can make a difference on your health. One study showed that women with heart disease lived longer when they were subjected to a stress management program”. In another study, Michael H. Antoni stated, "The results suggest that the stress management intervention lessen the influence of the stress of cancer treatment and promotes recovery over the first year."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/04/stress-health-effects-cancer-immune-system_n_2599551.html

http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/causes-of-stress#2 (WebMD Medical Reference Reviewed by Joseph Goldberg, MD, on March 13, 2016).

Sources: American Psychological Association: "Mind/Body Health: Stress." Orth-Gomer, K. The Journal of the American Medical Association; 2000. Orth-Gomer, K. Circulation, 2009. National Ag Safety Database: "Stress Management for the Health of It." National Women's Health Information Center: "Stress and Your Health." American Psychological Association: "Stress in America." CDC, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health: "Stress ... At Work."