The Body's Response to Stress - Essay Example

Stress and Health It is a known fact that stress can affect a person’s health negatively, thus, the emergence of stress management gurus and clinics. The Evening Gazette (2006) exemplifies this as they stated that “Stress is one of the biggest causes of ill health and 80% of all GP visits are stress-related.” However, this is all one-sided. The knowledge that a person can also benefit health-wise from stress is unheard of to the majority. Yet, this is as much a reality as the first statement. Yes, stress also has certain health benefits. In order to fully understand how stress affects health, it is imperative to define it completely and to know its different types. This paper will provide in-depth information on stress and how it can be both good and bad to your health. Stress Definition Hans Selye (quoted in Crampton, et al., 1995), a pioneer in stress research defines stress as “the nonspecific response of the body to any demands made upon it.” More recently, Elizabeth Scott, M.S. (2007a) makes the definition more simple and concise by stating that stress is “any type of change that causes physical, emotional or psychological strain.” In other words, stress happens when either positive or negative events take place (Cornforth, 2007). Thus, breaking up with a boyfriend and falling in love with a new girl can both create stress. Simply put, any change that is encountered in life can create stress. And, in turn, this stress can affect health either in a positive or negative way. Types of Stress It is important to discuss briefly the different types of stress in order to elucidate its power to provide health benefits, as well as create health problems. According to Scott (2007a), there are four types of stress: Eustress – this type of stress is created when engaging in fun and exciting activities that keeps us vital (Scott, 2007a). This is what is called positive stress. E.g. the initial jump when skydiving and running towards the finish line of a marathon. Acute Stress – this is stress as perceived by the many (only the negative part, however, it can also be positive—eustress). It can be defined as a “response to an immediate perceived threat, either physical, emotional or psychological” and is only short-term (Scott, 2005 and 2007a). The operative word here is “perceived,” which translates to either actual or imagined threats (Scott, 2005). E.g. the same rush that one gets when skydiving and the frustration that one feels when in a traffic jam. Episodic Acute Stress – this occurs when acute stress has already invaded a person’s life and has produced a certain attitude and way of life. E.g. when a girl has already become a “drama queen” or an overacting teenager (Scott, 2007a). Chronic Stress – this type is the worst kind as it occurs when constant stress is present in a person’s life, like in the case of a bad marriage or keeping multiple jobs at once in order to provide for a big family (Scott, 2007a). Now that the different types of stress have been discussed, it is only logical for the next step in establishing the relationship between stress and health to be the examination of the evidenced effects of stress on health. Effects of Stress on Health Eustress and Dystress Eustress is otherwise dubbed as “curative stress” because of its health benefits (Diaz, 2004). This type of stress provides people with motivation to succeed in performance related activities (Diaz, 2004). Physical activities like exercise have many health benefits, some of them a stronger heart, healthier digestive system, and consequently, a long life. Also, because eustress gives off a feeling of fulfillment and a sense of happiness and elation, it balances the emotional and psychological aspects of a person’s life—mixing in the bad and neutral events with the good and great. (RMIT University, 2000) However, as with anything, too much of it can also be bad. Thus, the term distress was coined by Hans Selye (RMIT University, 2000). The illustration above is the performance stress curve which indicates how too much or too less arousal or stimulation can lead to the condition of a person’s well being. Too much happiness can also lead to negative health effects. In fact, it can induce a heart attack, which can then lead to death (Diaz, 2004). Here, one learns how the positive effects of eustress on health can be achieved provided there is an optimal amount of stress. Acute Stress The Fight or Flight Response is what the body gets when in the state of acute stress. Does one shout back profanities at a driver who cut him/her off or does one just let it go? During this event, “certain hormones like adrenalin and cortisol are released, speeding the heart rate, slowing digestion, shunting blood flow to major muscle groups, and changing various other autonomic nervous functions, giving the body a burst of energy and strength” (Scott, 2007a). When the moment has passed, the body then returns to its normal state; this is called the relaxation response. However, when the person has a pre-existing medical condition, such as a weak heart, the response to acute stress may cause a heart attack or a stroke. Chronic Stress In cases of chronic stress, wherein “autonomic nervous system rarely has a chance to activate the relaxation response” and the fight or flight response is almost always on alert mode (like when living the life of a criminal or living in abject poverty), the body cannot anymore handle the constant stress and it becomes weak and ill (Scott, 2007b). The following diseases have been said to have a connection to stress: Cardiovascular Ailments – Chronic stress increases blood pressure, which may then progressively result in injury to the coronary arteries and the heart (Life Positive Foundation, 2008). Also, it has been proven that frequent stress increases “low-density lipoproteins (LDL, the “bad” form of cholesterol) and other lipid types such as triglycerides,” which can accumulate around the heart and result to arteriosclerosis and other such diseases of the heart (Life Positive Foundation, 2008). Immune Related Disorders – The cortisol that is generated during acute stress situations, which becomes profuse in cases of chronic stress, has been proven to overpower the body’s immune response system (Life Positive Foundation, 2008). This then leads to an increase in the susceptibility rate of acquiring infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and group-A streptococcal diseases (GAS) (Life Positive Foundation, 2008). Digestive Disorders – Because the nervous system partly controls the entire intestine, the digestive system suffers as the blood supply to the stomach becomes limited (Life Positive Foundation, 2008). This then can lead to ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, and other gastrointestinal disorders (Life Positive Foundation, 2008). Conclusion While there are many other diseases that stress proves to aggravate or induce, from the simplest backaches, migraines, and even hair loss, to cancer (some studies show that stress decreases the white blood cells that destroy cancer cells), these three sets of disorders illustrate that there is a direct connection between stress and health. Whether positive or negative, stress does have impacts on the physical, emotional and psychological well-being of individuals. For many, the mismanagement of stress is what led them to substance abuse and drug addiction. It is important then, to pinpoint the causes of stress in order to create a balance between its positive and negative effects. Every individual is unique, and thus, what may cause one to experience elation as a reaction to stress may cause the other to become scared or fall into deep depression. The key to maintaining a healthy body is to promote and live a healthy lifestyle. Become conscious of how stress affects your life. Work hard, but go on a vacation once in a while. Be happy and party, but do not do it everyday. Everything in moderation, for even too much eustress is bad. “Our aim shouldnt be to completely avoid stress but to learn how to recognise our typical response to stress and then to try to modulate our lives in accordance with it” (Selye & Cherry, 1978, p. 60, quoted in RMIT University, 2000) References Cornforth, T. (2007). What is Stress Doing to Your Health? Retrieved July 26, 2008 from http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/stress/a/stressnurhealth.htm Crampton, S. M., et al. (1995). Stress and Stress Management. SAM Advanced Management Journal. Volume 60, Issue 3, pp. 10+. Diaz, D. P. (2004) Eustress. Retrieved July 26, 2008 from http://academic.cuesta.edu/wholehealth/Level2/Lecpages/str04.htm Evening Gazette (2006). Stress Busters. November 6 Issue. Life Positive Foundation (2008). Stress and Physical Health. Retrieved July 26, 2008 from http://www.lifepositive.com/mind/psychology/stress/stress-and-health.asp RMIT University (2000). Distinction between Eustress & Dystress. STRESS: The Interactive Process. Retrieved July 26, 2008 from http://resources.as.rmit.edu.au/examples/stress/distinction.html Scott, E. (2005). Acute Stress. Retrieved July 26, 2008 from http://stress.about.com/od/stressmanagementglossary/g/accutestress.htm Scott, E. (2007a). Stress: How It Affects Your Body, and How You Can Stay Healthier. Retrieved July 26, 2008 from http://stress.about.com/od/stresshealth/a/stresshealth.htm Scott, E. (2007b). Chronic Stress. Retrieved July 26, 2008 from http://stress.about.com/od/stressmanagementglossary/g/Chronicstress.htm Read More