1. Stress and Illness/Disease
Chapter 3
Stress and Illness/Disease

2. Hot Reactors Hot reactors tend to: Become angry easily
Be anxious or depressed
Urinate frequently
Experience gastrointestinal problems

3. Psychosomatic Disease
Process involving the mind affecting the body
Psychophysiological is used synonymously
Diagnosed as a real disease, manifested physically
Can be psychogenic (physical disease is caused by emotional stress) or somatogenic (mind increases body’s susceptibility to some diseases)

4. Stress and the Immunological System
Psychoneuroimmunology – scientific field of the chemical link between mind and body
Immunological system includes the following white blood cell groups:
Phagocytes
T cells
B cells
All three identify and destroy foreign substances in the body

5. Studies of Personality and Health Status
Friedman and Booth-Kewley (1987) cite evidence of a disease-prone personality
Hans Eysenck (1988) demonstrated personality traits leading to cancer and heart disease

6. Studies of Personality and Health Status, cont’d
A 1989 Princeton study showed a reduction in students’ antibody salivary IgA during stressful periods
Dr. Candace Pert (2003) demonstrated a possible link between WBCs and neuropeptide production; relaxation may be able to increase effectiveness of immune system

7. Relationship of Stress to Specific Diseases/Conditions
Friedman, Rosenman, and Carroll (1958) showed how timelines/deadlines can increase serum cholesterol dramatically
A relationship between high blood pressure (>140/90 mm Hg) and stress has long been been suspected (Lamott, 1974)

8. Relationship of Stress to Specific Diseases/Conditions, cont’d
Stroke/apoplexy – lack of oxygen to the brain resulting from a blocked or ruptured blood vessel, has been linked to stress (Manuck et al, 1992)
Coronary heart disease (blockage of coronary arteries) has been linked to stress; Friedman & Rosenman (1974) identified Type A behaviors in heart attack patients

9. Relationship of Stress to Specific Diseases/Conditions, cont’d
Ulcers – fissures in the walls of the gastrointestinal tract
Cause originally thought to be increased hydrochloric acid production resulting from stress
Recent information shows Helicobacter pylori often is the cause
Antibiotics rather than histamine blockers should be prescribed for ulcers
Ingestion of aspirin or other anti-inflammatories also can cause ulcers

10. Relationship of Stress to Specific Diseases/Conditions, cont’d
Migraine headaches
Result from constriction (preattack phase) and dilation (pain stage) of carotid arteries
24 million suffer in United States
Considered to be sign of emotional stress
Tension headaches
Caused by muscle tension (forehead, jaw, neck)

11. Relationship of Stress to Specific Diseases/Conditions, cont’d
Cancer
Studies suggest stress plays a role in development of cancer
Allergies, asthma, and hay fever
Antigens (foreign substances) cause the immune system to produce antibodies
Some scientists argue that allergies are emotional diseases

12. Relationship of Stress to Specific Diseases/Conditions, cont’d
Rheumatoid arthritis
Inflammation of a joint, possibly caused by a faulty functioning of the immune system
Backache
Muscle weakness and bracing is usual cause
Constant contractions found in certain personality types

13. Relationship of Stress to Specific Diseases/Conditions, cont’d
TMJ syndrome
Interference with smooth function of jaw
Most common cause is bruxism (teeth grinding) due to stress
PTSD
Posttraumatic stress disorder results from extreme psychological and/or physical event perceived as extremely distressing (e.g., threat to one’s life)

14. Relationship of Stress to Specific Diseases/Conditions, cont’d
Psychosocial illnesses
Anxiety
Depression
Physical symptoms cannot be separated from psychological and sociological

15. Stress and Other Conditions
May lead to miscarriage
Increase the risk of sports injuries

16. Stress and Illness/Disease
Chapter 3
Stress and Illness/Disease