1. The impact of stress on the body |
2. 10 signs of chronic stress |
3. Which diseases are linked to stress? |
4. Stress and cancer |
5. Ways to relieve stress |
Stress as a factor in the development or exacerbation of diseases plays a role in a large number of diagnoses, for which reason it’s been unofficially named a “silent scourge”. The skills of its timely detection and prevention, as well as ways to relieve stress are essential for every modern person. We asked our MediGlobus psychologist to share the essential things people need to know about stress – especially those who already have serious health problems – and how one can help themselves at home. The answers to these questions can be found in our article.
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What is stress and how does it affect the body?
Stress is an adaptive state of the body that is triggered in critical situations when one’s health or life may depend on their behaviour. Stress helps us to give it our all in extreme situations, disregarding fatigue, but in the long term, its effect on the body is rather negative.
The body’s response to stress is systematic, which means that it involves all systems. From the heart, which changes the heart rate, to the hormones released into the bloodstream – the most important of which are adrenaline and cortisol. The body begins to release glucose more actively, making one feel a rush of energy. The heart, muscles, and lungs work at their maximum capacity while other systems, such as the gastrointestinal or sexual systems, take a back seat. This is all very important for short-term survival, but as we can see, prolonged exposure to these conditions does not allow the organs to perform their functions properly and the individual as a whole to replenish their energy supply.
Chronic stress, which in today’s society is most often associated with social factors – studies, work, family – has a negative impact on the functioning of the internal organs. Even on a psychological level we see changes – people become more emotional, reactive and find it harder to think out of the box. Depending on the individual, over time the body may develop problems with the musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous or reproductive systems. The medical term for this group of illnesses is psychosomatic, i.e. caused by the patient’s psychological reaction to life events, and not, for instance, by an infection or an accident.
To better understand the scale of the problem, let’s look at the statistics. According to the sociological study conducted annually by Gallup in 121 countries, an average of 1 out of 4 adults is regularly stressed. And this figure varies from country to country – with the highest results in Afghanistan, Lebanon and Turkey. The USA and China are among the most stressed countries in the world, while the UK and India are in the middle range.
Read: 10 signs of chronic stress
Yale University highlights the following symptoms most often indicating chronic stress:
Physical pain, which can occur in various parts of the body – shoulders, legs, stomach, head, etc.;
Constant exhaustion – both physical and emotional;
Forgetfulness;
Changes in emotional state;
Social isolation;
Sleep disorders, in particular insomnia, restless sleep, or conversely, constant fatigue and sleepiness;
Difficulty concentrating;
Changes in appetite;
Emotional numbness, a feeling of “emptiness inside”;
Increased reliance on unhealthy habits – alcohol, smoking, overeating, etc.
Every person is different and not everyone will show the same signs of stress. It is generally accepted that the presence of at least 3-5 of the above symptoms that have been consistently present for several weeks is a serious indicator of the presence of chronic stress.
Stress can also affect the sexual system. One of the most common effects of stress in women is amenorrhoea – disruption of the menstrual cycle. Chronic stress also has a dangerous effect on the potential to become pregnant and bear a child. In men, stress symptoms are associated with erectile dysfunction, decreased libido and a decline in sperm quality.
What diseases can be linked to stress?
Although it is incorrect to say that stress is the only factor that causes a disease, it can often play a decisive role in its development by exacerbating existing imbalances in the body or aggravating existing diseases. Various studies show that stress is closely linked to such dangerous and common diseases as high blood pressure, vessel clogging, stomach ulcers, diabetes and depression.
According to US statistics, chronic stress is linked to all 6 of the most common causes of death – CHD, cancer, accidents, respiratory disease, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide.
Immune disorders
Chronic stress takes a toll on the immune system. It makes people more vulnerable to all infections, weakens the immune system’s ability to fight disease and increases the risk of tissue damage after long-term inflammation. In addition, the effectiveness of vaccination is also reduced.
Studies have shown that stressors associated with changes in social roles have the most adverse effects on immunity. The longer such exposure lasts, the higher the risk of irreversible consequences. Furthermore, older people are more vulnerable to developing immune disorders in response to chronic stress.
Endocrinological diseases
The centres of the brain associated with stress responses are also involved in controlling and regulating the body’s hormonal (endocrine) system. Chronic stress disrupts its functioning, leading to many illnesses. Some of these reactions can lead to disorders such as Graves’ disease, gonadal dysfunction, psychosexual dwarfism and obesity.
One important discovery in recent decades has been the confirmation of a link between chronic stress and type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Cardiovascular problems
Chronic stress may contribute to long-term problems with your heart and blood vessels. A consistent and constant increase in heart rate, elevated levels of stress hormones and blood pressure have severe consequences for the body, increasing the risk of developing hypertension, heart attack or stroke. It can also contribute to inflammation of the coronary arteries, increasing the risk of an attack. There is also a link between how a person reacts to stress and their cholesterol levels.
The American Psychological Association (APA) points out that postmenopausal women are more susceptible to the negative effects of stress on the cardiovascular system.
Digestive disorders
Stress affects the innervation of the gastrointestinal system and may cause pain, nausea, bloating and other issues. Stressful situations in many people are accompanied by physical sensations such as heartburn, nausea and appetite change. In addition to becoming more sensitive to bodily discomfort, the balance of the intestinal microflora also becomes disturbed. As a consequence, this impairs the absorption of nutrients. All these factors interact with each other and negatively affect the emotional and psychological well-being of the person. People suffering from chronic digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome, are particularly vulnerable.
How are stress and cancer linked?
Many reputable organisations, including the US National Cancer Institute, Cancer Research UK, and prestigious universities such as Stanford and Harvard, have confirmed a modest link between chronic stress and an increased risk of cancer.
One of the most important factors through which stress can lead to the development of cancer is unhealthy lifestyle. Alcohol, smoking and fatty junk food become a way for many people to relax after a stressful day at work. However, the negative health effects, especially when abused systematically and regularly, do not disappear.
Another mechanism by which stress affects cancer is immunity. To quote Dr Tim Elliott, Professor at the University of Southampton, “Our immune system is recognising and destroying little cancers as they develop all the time. If we didn’t have it, then we would be developing cancer a lot more often”. However, as we have already mentioned, chronic stress can weaken the immune system, causing the defence cells to “miss” the tumour in the early stages of formation and allow it to develop into a full-blown cancer process. Although this mechanism is not fundamental in the development of cancer, various studies prove a link between chronic stress and cancer of the prostate, breast, lung, colon, pancreas, etc. It has also been found that cancer patients who are under a lot of stress and have insufficient support from loved ones are at risk of more rapid progression of the disease and its metastases.
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What are some effective ways to relieve stress?
One of the most important factors in dealing with stress, especially if you already have a serious illness, is having social support. Many people are afraid to talk about their worries with their loved ones, thinking that they will be judged or seen as weak, but this is not true. People need other people, and having someone to share their worries with is a big step towards getting rid of stress.
Among the more targeted methods of dealing with stress, one should consider mindfulness. This is a modern, scientific psychological method, based on meditation practices. It helps one to relax on a physiological level, to get rid of anxiety and to concentrate better. Studies conducted on prostate cancer and breast cancer patients confirm that mindfulness helps to improve all measurable indicators of stress – blood pressure, heart rate, cortisol and intracellular cytokine levels, and the number of white blood cells in the blood.
Another extremely important weapon in the fight against stress is a healthy lifestyle. Getting enough sleep is essential for your body to recover overnight, because it is during the deep sleep phases that the body’s ‘repair’ processes take place. Physical activity is also an important component of stress resistance. A 2018 report from the American College of Sports Medicine’s International Multidisciplinary Roundtable on Physical Activity and Cancer Prevention and Control found that moderate-intensity physical activity during and after cancer treatment can reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms in cancer survivors.
It’s important to understand that even if conventional methods of dealing with stress don’t work, there is always the option of seeing a psychologist. Consultation with a qualified professional or group work can help you to develop new strategies for dealing with the world, to better assert your boundaries, to become less emotionally involved in conflict, and to develop other useful psychological skills.
Summary
Chronic stress has negative effects on all body systems – musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, gastrointestinal, nervous or reproductive.
Signs of chronic stress include pain, fatigue, sleep and appetite disorders, problems with memory and concentration, changes in the emotional state, and reliance on unhealthy habits for stress relief (alcohol, smoking, overeating).
According to US statistics, chronic stress is linked to all 6 of the most common causes of death – CHD, cancer, accidents, respiratory disease, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide.
Being under chronic stress makes a person somewhat more vulnerable to developing cancer, especially if they have other risk factors (e.g. unhealthy lifestyle, genetic predisposition, age, etc.).
The strongest factors that help one to resist stress are having the support of family and friends and a balanced lifestyle. Some effective psychological methods include mindfulness and working with a psychologist.
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Sources:
- 1. American Psychology Association
- 2. American Institute of Stress
- 3. Forbes: U.S. Among The Ten Most Stressed Nations Worldwide
- 4. Gallup’s Global Emotions Report 2022
- 5. Yale University
- 6. The Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences: Life Event, Stress and Illness
- 7. Nature Reviews Endicronology: Stress and disorders of the stress system
- 8. Cureus: Stress-Induced Diabetes
- 9. The Journal of Clinical Investigation: Inflammation, stress, and diabetes
- 10. National Cancer Institute
- 11. American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery
- 12. Standford University
- 13. Brain, Behavior and Immunity: One year pre–post intervention follow-up of psychological, immune, endocrine and blood pressure outcomes of mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) in breast and prostate cancer outpatients
