Physiological Impact of Stress

General Adaptation Syndrome Stage 1- Alarm Reaction “Fight or Flight Response”. Stage 2- Resistance Increased reaction to stress. If it works, we return to normal. If not, signs of physical and Psychological distress increase Stage 3- Exhaustion Emotional disorders or “burnout” may occur. Physical Symptoms Alcohol or drug abuse

How does stress impact our health? Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. 75 to 90 percent of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. Stress is linked to the six leading causes of death–heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has declared stress a hazard of the workplace.

Heart and Cardiovascular Health Over the long term, people who react more to stress have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. This risk particularly is linked to people who tend to be excessively competitive, impatient, hostile, and move and talk quickly. Of these characteristics, hostility is often pinpointed as the most significant. The common stress response of eating comfort foods, with their accompanying fat and salt, is not beneficial to the heart either.

High Blood Pressure Known as hypertension, this is a very common chronic disease which usually has no obvious symptoms. But it raises your risk of stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and heart attack. Stress increases blood pressure in the short term, so chronic stress may contribute to a permanently raised blood pressure.

Compromised Immune System There is no doubt that under stress the immune system is suppressed, making you more vulnerable to infections. Allergies and autoimmune diseases (including arthritis and multiple sclerosis) may be exacerbated by stress. This effect can be partly offset by social support from friends and family. Being stressed also slows the rate at which you recover from any illnesses you already have. Also, Rats and Stress=Cancer experiment

Skin Problems Stress is known to aggravate skin problems such as acne, psoriasis and eczema. It also has been linked to unexplained itchy skin rashes. These skin problems are themselves intensely stressful.

Pain Continued stimulation of muscles through prolonged stress can lead to muscular pain such as backache. Together with our sedentary lifestyles and bad posture, this makes back, shoulder and neck ache extremely widespread. Stress also is thought to aggravate underlying painful conditions such as herniated discs, fibromyalgia and repetitive strain injury (RSI). Furthermore, most migraine sufferers say that stress contributes to their headaches, which can last for days.

Infertility Stress does not normally cause infertility, but the two have been linked many times. People who are trying for a baby are more likely to conceive when on holiday or when facing little stress, and fertility treatment is more successful at these times too. This is correlation, not causation