Is Stress a Risk Factor for Illness?
The body's non-specific reaction to any demand is characterized as stress. We encounter stress in every aspect of our daily lives. Even if everyone wanted it, it's impossible to live a stress-free existence. We all deal with stress on a daily basis. A chronic ailment might develop if you ignore the signs and symptoms of persistent stress. How does prolonged stress affect a person's health?
When we're under stress, our bodies go through a variety of changes. Let's have a look at how the body works. When a portion of our body is under stress, the nerves in that area send a message to the brain. Then it travels to or from the limbic system or the thalamus through the reticular activating system. For the limbic system, the thalamus works as a switch or trigger, dictating what to do with the signals the body sends it when it receives them. When the hypothalamus is stimulated, the endocrine and autonomic nervous systems are activated.
Activating a region of the brain known as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system (HPA) is another way the brain responds to a stressor (HPA system). The principal stress hormone crotisol is produced and released by the HPA, which activates the creation and release of glucocorticolds, or steroid hormones. This hormone plays a critical role in mobilizing the body's systems to cope with stress swiftly. Stress causes the body to develop a number of metabolites. As a consequence, if these stress byproducts aren't dealt with in an effective manner, they might lead to all-out physiological responses or illnesses and diseases.
Consider a few common ailments and disorders. The mind may predispose the body to a wide range of ailments. Psychosomatic disorders are a kind of sickness (psyche means mind; soma means body). Jenny, a lady of 45 years old, will serve as an illustration of this point. In the wake of her husband's death, she was left despondent. As a gentle person, Jenny's husband's unexpected death hurt her deeply, and she struggled to come to terms with it. Suddenly, she was overcome with a feeling of powerlessness. After her husband's death, Jenny was left alone, and many people were not shocked by her death only one year later. Officially, it was determined that Jenny died of a heart attack, but among her friends, the phrase "broken heart" was used instead.
You may know a few individuals like Jenny, who died or were chronically sick as a result of extreme stress, despite the fact that they had no obvious medical ailments. What a cliche it is to say, "It's all in your brain." It wasn't entirely in Jenny's brain, however. Psychogenic illnesses are those that develop as a consequence of prolonged exposure to high levels of emotional stress. No pathogenic virus or microorganism is present in psychogenic disorders; instead, the mind interferes with normal bodily functions, causing them to malfunction. As an example, a somatogenic illness, such as cancer or asthma, occurs when the mind renders the body susceptible to disease-causing germs or natural degenerative processes. Stress may lead to a variety of illnesses. Let's take a closer look at a few specifics. Hypertension is one of the most prevalent disorders brought on by stress. Having high blood pressure, often known as hypertension, is a condition in which there is an abnormally high amount of blood pressure exerted on the arterial walls of blood vessels. The artery walls will burst if the blood pressure is too high. As a result, the blood destined for a certain spot will not reach its destination. Cerebral bleeding may result from a rupture in the brain. There has long been a connection between hypertension and stress because of the rise in blood pressure and serum cholesterol during times of stress. Hypertension is often caused by emotional stress. Medication may help manage hypertension, but there are side effects to be aware of. Poor behaviors like smoking and drinking might have negative side effects. In addition to medicine and a healthier lifestyle, stress management techniques like relaxation training and cognitive behavioral therapy are critical in the treatment of hypertension.
One of the arteries in the brain ruptures or becomes blocked, causing shortage of oxygen to reach the brain's cells. In certain cases, paralysis, speech problems, or even death may result from the rupture, depending on where it occurs. Hypertension, poor nutrition, and stress all contribute to strokes. Ulcers are another stress-related illness. When prolonged stress occurs, norepinephrine secretion causes capillaries in the stomach lining to contract, resulting in ulcers. As a consequence, the mucosal production that serves as a protective barrier for the stomach lining is reduced to zero. It is possible to have a bleeding ulcer if the barrier in the stomach wall is broken, allowing the hydrochloric acid to tear down the tissue. However, ulcers may be caused by a variety of different factors. Stress, on the other hand, may worsen the factors that lead to ulcers in the first place. Hydrochloric acid generation in the stomach may also be aided by this substance.
In addition to rheumatoid arthritis, stress may cause a number of other debilitating conditions. Swelling and inflammation in many joints throughout the body may be quite painful if left untreated. The synovial membrane is found in every healthy joint. Fluids that lubricate the joints are produced by this membrane. In rheumatoid arthritis, this membrane secretes too much of this fluid. Swelling around the joint is the result of these fluids. If the growth continues, these fluids will enter the bone since there is no other place for them to expand. In the last stage, the scar tissue may be damaged and the bone may be immobilized, leading to deformity. Hereditary factors known as rheumatoid factors may play a role in the development of rheumatoid arthritis. People who are predisposed to rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to have worsening symptoms if they are constantly stressed out. Stress may have a wide range of harmful effects if it isn't taken care of. These include cancer, arthritis, TMJ syndrome, asthma, hayfever, migraines, and coronary heart disease.
A healthy level of stress is essential for guiding an individual's life in the right path. So don't go with the flow of life, but rather take life with you wherever you want to go.