Effects of stress on physical health

Introduction Stress forms an integral part of our daily life despite negative notions people have developed against it. According to Wein (2000), stress ensures that the body functions optimally particularly when responding to adverse situations. He further explains that the flight or fight response guarantees individual’s safety since the body is able to react swiftly to the changes in environmental conditions. However, chronic exposure to stress may pose adverse effects to one’s physical health.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Effects of stress on physical health specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More To begin with, stress has been known to suppress immune system thereby increasing the body’s susceptibility to infections (Wein, 2000). Moreover, stress triggers the onset of heart diseases as well as high blood pressure thus subjecting an individual to health risks. Finally, stress is asso ciated with a variety of health problems including backaches, stomachaches, pain, headaches, diarrhea, loss of sleep as well as weight gain (Wein, 2000). Chronic exposure to stress lowers the body’s immune system thereby reducing its ability to respond to invaders such as viruses or bacteria. It is therefore important for individuals to know their stress limits in an attempt to effectively manage stress. Health effects of stress Psychological stress triggers the physical symptoms as well as onset of various illnesses in the body. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about ninety percent of all diseases and illnesses are stress-related (Wein, 2000). Chronic stress interferes with the normal functioning of the body systems. At the outset, chronic stress suppresses the immune system, elevates blood pressure, and increases cardiac risk as well as stroke. Effects of stress on the immune system When the body is subjected to stressful conditions, stress hormones such as cortisol hormones are released by the pituitary and adrenal glands so as to initiate the stress response in the body. Such response is vital since both the brain and immune system can communicate to ensure effective stress management. However, such communication may be disrupted when one is exposed to chronic stress thereby suppressing the immune system. This would pave way for stress-related illnesses to attack the body. In such situations, stress hormones are persistently pumped into the blood thereby lowering the fighting ability of immune cells. According to Niess et al (2002), prolonged psychological stress suppresses immune system by reducing the macrophages, CD8+ lymphocytes as well as NK cells. This exposes the body to various infections. Effects of stress on the heart The heart functions best at certain levels of stress. However, chronic stress may lead to adverse effects on the heart performance thus posing cardiac risks. Stressors trigger cardiac events including pathophysiological changes such as myocardial infarction and ischemia, abnormalities associated with the wall motion, sudden death as well as changes in heart regulation (Soufer, 2004).Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Deepa, Pradeep, Mohan (2001) argue that when an individual is exposed to psychological stress, there is a speedy increase in blood pressure as well as heart rate following an increase in sympathetic response and plasma epinephrine. Such heightened sympathetic nerve response poses high cardiac risks as oxygen demands increases. Heightened psychosocial stress may also aggravate myocardial ischemia (Soufer, 2004). According to Niess et al (2002), psychological stress triggers myocardial ischemia in individuals with recognized cardiovascular disease. They further assert that individuals with abnormalities in wall motion as well as negative personality traits have increased cardiac risks and even death. Deepa, Pradeep, Mohan (2001) argue that the development of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction is preceded by chronic levels of psychological factors an individual is exposed to. Besides, mental stress also induces cardiovascular illnesses through vasoconstriction of the coronary vessels. Psychological stress may trigger recurrence of medical events in individuals with cardiovascular diseases. Finally, psychological stress is also associated with induction of atherosclerosis by thickening the coronary artery (Deepa, Pradeep, Mohan, 2001). Macleod et al (2002) argue that heightened stress affects health through neuroendocrine mechanism as well as unhealthy behavior among individuals in the population. They however, cite bias reporting as some of the reasons why such associations may not be accurate (Macleod et al, 2002). Effects of stress on the intestinal epithelia as well as neuroendocrine system The stress-induced i nteractions between the immune and the neuroendocrine systems may lead to changes in the physiologic functions of intestinal epithelium thereby stirring up relapses in the Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) (Niess et al, 2002). According to the scientists such occurrence is possible because stress induces the production of neuropepetides such as tachykinins well as cytokines. The interaction between the neuronal and immune system is facilitated by the corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) that is found in the nuclei of the brain cells. Recent studies have shown that activation of CRF receptors in the brain nuclei mediates the stress-induced intonation of gastrointestinal functions. The normal epithelial functions are hindered when the body is subjected to either acute or chronic stress. Such interruptions in the epithelial functions may lead to mucosal inflammation thereby resulting into the clinical manifestation of IBD.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Effects of stress on physical health specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion It is noteworthy that stress is an important factor in our day-to-day life. Stress prepares an individual by initiating responses aimed at protecting the body against perceived threats. Such body response involving either fighting or fleeing from the danger zone guarantees the safety of an individual. However, chronic exposure to stress may be harmful to the body. Prolonged exposure to stress suppresses immune system thereby making the body prone to infections. Such chronic stress has been associated with the development of cardiovascular illnesses including blood pressure as well as heart disease. Research shows that almost ninety percent of all diseases are stress-induced. Stress management strategies as well as stress reduction methods including relaxation, exercise and meditation are vital procedures in curbing stress-related diseases. Reference List Deepa R., Pradeep R., Mohan V. (2001). Role of Psychological Stress in Cardiovascular Disease. Int J Diab Dev Ctries; 21:121-4. Web. Macleod, J., Davey-Smith, G., Heslop, P., Metcalfe, C., Carroll, D., Hart, C., (2002).  Psychological stress and cardiovascular disease: Empirical demonstration of bias in a prospective observational study of Scottish men. British Medical Journal, 324(7348), 1247-1252. Web. Niess, J., Monnikes, H., Dignass, A., Klapp, B., Arck, P., (2002).  Review of the influence of stress on immune mediators, neuropeptides and hormones with relevance for inflammatory bowel disease. Digestion: International Journal of Gastroenterology, 65(3), 131-140. Web. Soufer, R. (2004). Neurocardiac interaction during stress-induced myocardial ischemia: How does the brain cope? Circulation, 110(13), 1710-1713. Web. Wein, H. (2000). Stress and Disease: New Perspectives. Web.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Niess, J. H., Monnikes, H, Dignass, A. U., Klapp, B. F., Arck, P. C. (2002). Review of the influence of stress on immune mediators, neuropeptides and hormones with relevance for inflammatory bowel disease. Digestion: International Journal of Gastroenterology, 65(3), 131-140. Macleod, J., Davey-Smith, G., Heslop, P., Metcalfe, C., Carroll, D., Hart, C. (2002). Psychological stress and cardiovascular disease: Empirical demonstration of bias in a prospective observational study of Scottish men. British Medical Journal, 324(7348), 1247-1252. This research paper on Effects of stress on physical health was written and submitted by user Jerry Moore to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here. Effects of Stress on Physical Health Man has had to deal with numerous challenges as far as remaining healthy is concerned. Researchers have been able to identify several causes of health problems among human beings and most of them have grave consequences. Stress has been singled out by most investigators as being one of the major causes of both physical and emotional health problems (Niess, Monnikes, Dignass, Klapp, Arck, 2002). This has been escalated by the frequent hassles, frustrations, and demands in the day to day life experiences. Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Effects of Stress on Physical Health specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Attempts to handle all these challenges may end up being overwhelming hence creating a general imbalance in an individual. Reasonable levels of stress have been clinically determined as being helpful particularly when faced with a challenging task like a presentation, examination situation, and deadline s since one becomes alert, energetic, and at full concentration. However, reliable studies have established that extreme/chronic levels of stress can be destructive to a person’s physical and emotional health thus affecting the general productivity, relationships, as well as the quality of the person’s life in general. The research paper will explore the various effects of stress on an individual’s health. According to many research findings, prolonged incidences of stress can have serious impacts on an individual’s health. Extreme levels of stress have the capacity of disrupting virtually the entire body system and its functions. Among other effects, stress can increase the rate of heart beat, paralyze the immune system, the risk of heart attack and stroke, affect a person’s fertility, and raise the general levels of fatigue and aging rate. A research conducted by Hapuarachchi, Chalmers, Winefield, and Blake-Mortimer (2003) found that high level s of oxidative stress, a pro-inflammatory state, high infection rate, and cardiovascular diseases were mostly due to stress. Hapuarachchi and the team also established that homocysteine, and the levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) may lead to cardiovascular infections. They arrived at these conclusions after investigating the relationships that may exist between stress and homocysteine, oxidative stress and CRP. High levels of CRT and increased levels of pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory states increase the levels of psychological stress (Hapuarachchi et al., 2003). The study findings further indicate that the levels of anger can be influenced by the levels of homocysteine.Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More A similar investigation was done by Macleod, Smith, Heslop, Metcalfe, Carroll and Hart (2002) with the objective of finding out the association between self reported psychological stress and cardiovascular disease. The researchers engaged Scottish men only with follow up of about 21 years. According to the research findings by Macleod et al., there is greater relationship between higher stress, angina, and some of the hospital admissions (2002). However, critical analyses of the findings in relation to heart disease findings have revealed the impact of reporting bias. Psychological stress, among other psychosocial factors, has been identified by many researchers as playing a role in determining heart-related diseases. This is because stress affects the neuroendocrine mechanisms and cause unhealthy behavior in the victim (Macleod et al., 2002). Research findings reveal that there is a strong relationship between self reported stress and self reported signs and symptoms of coronary heart disease. Furthermore, there is a relationship between stress and the number of admissions to hospitals for psychiatric disorders. The correlation between higher levels of stress and angina was also found to be positive. The findings were considered to be under the great influence of reporting bias from the participants leading to high tendency of spurious conclusions as far as psychosocial constructs and health outcomes are concerned (Macleod et al., 2002). It is this critical evaluation of research findings that has helped in the quest for more objective investigations of the association between stress and health outcomes. Most recent researches have made attempts to investigate the effects of stress on the mental stability of an individual. Robert Soufer, a renowned stress researcher, studied how the brain copes with neurocardiac interaction during stress-induced myocardial ischemia (2004). According to Soufer, the administration of acute mental stress can provoke myocardial ischemia in persons with coronary artery disease (CAD). A person’s brain is responsible for coordinating memory ability and hence determines an individualâ⠂¬â„¢s vulnerability to the cardiovascular manifestation of emotional stress. In deed, the brain’s neurochemical pathways associated with inappropriate fear and anxiety are responsible for cardiovascular effects of stress. In some instances, the brain may trigger inappropriate responses to various stimuli resulting in stress/fear which in turn affects the person’s physical health (Soufer, 2004).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Effects of Stress on Physical Health specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Apart from investigating the role of stress in heart-related health problems, researchers have also sought to find out the influence of stress on immune system of an individual. Niess et al. (2002) conducted a study on the role of stress on immunological diseases and related health problems. For a long time, stress has been known to significantly influence the continued inflammatory bowel disease. The researchers’ intention was to find out the validity of this belief. Earlier studies have found that stress greatly affects the immune system. The neuroendocrine system as well as the intestinal epithelia is also known to be escalated by stress. More so, stress has been known to initiate the discharge of pro-inflammatory Th1 cytokines and neuropeptides which include tachykinins (Niess et al., 2002). It is widely believed that if the neuroendocrine system interacts with the immune system, the intestinal epithelium may be affected resulting in the stimulation of IBD relapses. Prior studies have strongly associated the cause of relapses of ulcerative colitis to stress. The research by Niess and colleagues had the objective of finding out the significance of psychoneuroimmunological (PNI) approach as far as the pathogenesis of IBD is concerned(2002). A number of studies have traced how stress affects the immune system to the ability of stress to alter the body’s immu nological orientation, particularly by affecting the distribution of lymphocytes and the synthesis of cytokines. Stress can also affect other mediators and mechanisms, such as the neurotransmitters, the hormones, and other immune cells which in turn lead to imbalance in the entire body. It is the various body systems that are responsible for responding to and balancing the otherwise extreme (chronic) levels of stress (Niess et al., 2002). The review done by Niess and his team helps in concluding that stress plays an important role in the emergence of several immunological diseases; the immune and the nueroendocrine systems. The research paper has explored the various effects of stress on the physical health of an individual. Stress has far-reaching effects, such as causing or enhancing cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease, and myocardial ischemia. The paper has also explored the effects of stress on the immune system and the neuroendocrine system. Advertising Looking for research paper on health medicine? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Many researchers agree that chronic stress plays a significant role in some of the health problems that people encounter from time to time. It can be concluded that the findings on the effects of stress on the physical and emotional health of people are still varied and complex and further objective studies must therefore be carried out if meaningful conclusions are to be reached. References Hapuarachchi, J. R., Chalmers, A. H., Winefield, A. H., Blake-Mortimer, J. S. (2003). Changes in clinically relevant metabolites with psychological stress parameters. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 29, 52-59 Macleod, J., Smith, G. D., Heslop, P., Metcalfe, C., Carroll, D., Hart, C. (2002). Psychological stress and cardiovascular disease: empirical demonstration of bias in a prospective observational study of Scottish men. British Medical Journal, 324: 1247-51 Niess, J. H., Monnikes, H., Dignass, A. U., Klapp, B. F., Arck, P. C. (2002). Review on the influence of stress on immune mediators, n europeptides and hormones with relevance for inflammatory bowel disease. Digestion, 65, 131-140 Soufer, R. (2004). Neurocardiac interaction during stress-induced myocardial ischemia: how does the brain cope? Circulation, 1710-1712. American Heart Association, Inc. This research paper on Effects of Stress on Physical Health was written and submitted by user Lyric Schneider to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.