Understanding Stress and Disease

How stress influences physical disease Immune system protects body against stress-related diseases

The immune system Protects body against invasion of foreign material –Viruses –Bacteria –Foreign tissue (e.g. heart transplant) Removes damaged cells

Immune system disorders Immune deficiency –AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome –Caused by the HIV virus Human Immunodeficiency Virus Destroys the T-cells in the immune system HIV destroys immune system - AIDS - vulnerable to bacterial, viral, and other diseases

Transplant rejection Immune system tries to fight the foreign tissue Drugs given to reduce effects of immune system

Factors decreasing the immune system Stress Relationship conflict Care giving - e.g. Alzheimer’s disease

How stress can act to create diseases Under stress, people –Smoke more –Drink more –Use illicit drugs –Eat unhealthy foods –Get less sleep These actions increase risk for various diseases The higher the person’s stress, the more likely they will become ill.

Common cold Exposure to virus + stress = cold

Cardiovascular disease & heart attack Stress can increase the risk, and trigger heart attack in people with heart disease Depression, anger, & tension can all increase the risk of heart attack

Psychoneuroimmunology Focus of interactions among –Behavior –Nervous system –Endocrine system –Immune system

Psychoneuroimmunology Behavior effects immune system Immune system affects health

Stress & psychological disorders Depression –Increased with negative outlook and ruminating over problems Anxiety disorders –PTSD Intrusive memories Recurrent dreams Psychological and Physiological distress –Most people experiencing traumatic events do not develop PTSD

Stress & psychological disorders No strong relationship between stressful experiences and psychological disorders While stress may increase the risk for physical and mental problems, most people under stress do not develop a disease, and remain healthy