Why does stress cause diseases

Is it possible to worry yourself sick? According to the Mayo Clinic , it is. Your body has a hard-wired self-defense system commonly known as the fight-or-flight response. The response is supposed to kick in when you encounter an immediate physical threat and turn off when the threat passes. However, your body can get stuck in fight-or flight-mode because of stress, and this can cause health problems. However, the stress of modern life can cause it to short circuit.

The alarm from your hypothalamus starts a series of signals that cause your adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol.

Adrenaline and cortisol help your body take action during the fight-or-flight response. When prolonged stress inhibits your body to transition back to relaxation mode, your body becomes overexposed to cortisol and other stress hormones. Adrenaline increases:. Additionally, cortisol slows nonessential bodily functions so that the maximum amount of energy can be allocated to defending yourself against an immediate physical threat. This surge and focus of energy is useful if a bear confronts you, for example.

This is why stress management is important in modern life. If your body is handling stress properly, a relaxation response will follow the fight-or-flight response.

This occurs due to a release of countering hormones. During the relaxation response of the parasympathetic nervous system, your body shifts back into equilibrium. It allows your heart rate and blood pressure to return to baseline levels and enables activities such as digestion and sleep to resume at their normal pace. Prolonged stress puts your body in a continuous state readiness for physical action. In other words, "cortisol levels may contribute to nighttime wakefulness and then our brains respond by reminding us of our problems," Hall says.

Scientists have known for years that there's a connection between long-term stress and heart attacks , but until recently the reasons were imperfectly understood. A study in the June issue of Nature Medicine sheds light on the phenomenon. Matthias Nahrendorf, a researcher at Harvard Medical School, discovered that blood samples taken from medical residents enduring high levels of stress contained a surplus of disease-fighting white blood cells.

Previous research had suggested that cortisol actually changes the texture of white blood cells, encouraging the cells to attach themselves to blood vessel walls. The result is plaque, a key marker of heart disease.

Nahrendorf's team confirmed this hypothesis when they found that a surplus of white blood cells caused hardening of the arteries in stressed but otherwise healthy mice. Over the past decade, researchers have reevaluated stress's role in depression and brain health , says Huda Akil, professor of neuroscience at the University of Michigan.

While it is often triggered by a stress-inducing episode, depression eventually "takes on a life of its own," she says. Stress throws several brain neurotransmitter systems — such as serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine — out of balance, negatively affecting mood, appetite, sleep and libido. Some severely depressed people have permanently elevated cortisol levels, which can eventually alter the hippocampus and permanently damage brain cells. For 50 years, scientists attributed stomach ulcers to stress.

Then in , Australian researchers Robin Warren and Barry Marshall discovered that ulcers are actually caused by the bacteria H. So were the godfathers of stress research wrong? It turns out that around 15 percent of stomach ulcers occur in people not infected with the bacteria and only about 10 percent of infected people get ulcers, according to Robert Sapolsky, a stress researcher at Stanford University and author of Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers.

One theory holds that the effect of chronic stress on the immune system allows the H. Another is that exposure to stress can change the balance of bacteria in the gut, giving harmful ones the upper hand. Millions of Americans spend their days hunched over computer screens and mobile phones, so it's no surprise that neck, shoulder and back pain are among the most common — and costly — health complaints.

The combination of physical inactivity and mental strain does not in itself create the disk tears, spinal stenosis and scoliosis that plague people as they age, but once the pain kicks in, stress can intensify both its severity and its duration. Musculoskeletal pain seems particularly sensitive to workplace stress.

Researchers aren't sure why people with stressful jobs have more back, neck and shoulder pain, but have theorized that stress-induced inflammation prevents the full healing that would make the pain recede. Jay Thompson, 54 Rx: Exercise Proof it works: Princeton University researchers have shown physical activity actually reorganizes the brain, teaching it stress resilience. In many ways, Thompson was a heart attack waiting to happen. A sedentary smoker, he loved fast food and was 70 pounds overweight.

He also dropped 70 pounds and started exercising. Like many of those caring for a spouse with dementia, Ferrero, who lives near San Luis Obispo, Calif. Then something changes, and it throws everything off. Whether through phone calls, email, support groups or coffee dates, they are a lifeline. Tommie Mae Bender, 80 Rx: Community gardening Proof it works: Dutch studies have shown that spending just 30 minutes gardening is enough to significantly zap stress, as measured by both cortisol levels and mood.

So she turned to the activity that provides her the most comfort: gardening. These days, she works two days a week with local gardening projects, raising food including turnips and beans to sell at farmers markets. Adam Bernstein, 50 Rx: Mindfulness meditation Proof it works: New research from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh has shown that just 25 minutes of mindfulness meditation for three consecutive days is enough to make you more resilient under stress. Bernstein, a musician, has been meditating regularly for 20 years, he says, but a recent divorce turned his world upside down.

Everything changed. It was difficult. When you stop resisting the feeling, you feel much better. It does pass. Smartphones, laptops, tablets—have all our digital devices ratcheted up our stress? Newer treatments for cancer patients include with medical treatments such innovations as relaxation therapy, musical therapy and even pet therapy, all of which can help to deflect stress associated with the disease as well as external factors.

Stress can be harder on the body than harsh physical labor. If you are concerned about contracting one of these illnesses caused by stress, take time to evaluate the factors that may be contributing anxiety to your life. If you experience symptoms for these or other illnesses, make an appointment with your doctor to get a complete examination and medical assessment. Do not let stressful situations continue to cause problems with your immune system and perhaps lead to one of the common illnesses caused by stress.

Learn how to take steps now to manage stressful factors in your life before stress takes control of you. Always Consult Your Physician First Although it is helpful to get health information by reading and talking with friends, make sure you consult your doctor first before trying any new treatment or changing your diet.

By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. By Rose Alexander. Reviewed: November 15, Have you ever heard of illnesses caused by stress? You may think that health problems are the result of bacteria or viruses. There are many kinds of illnesses caused by stress involving both the body and the mind. Insomnia Stress keeps people awake at night due to worry, anxiety, or uncertainty about the future.

Some people worry about their jobs, while others are concerned over family issues or health problems. Many things in life can be stressful and stress, if left unmanaged, can interrupt or delay sleep. To combat sleeplessness caused by stress, try drinking a glass of milk before bedtime, avoid caffeine, do not exercise at least four hours before going to bed and keep your bedroom cool, dimly lit and comfortable.