The effects of stress on health - Essay Example

? The Effects of Stress on the Health The Effects of Stress on Health The health is considered as one of the most important issues regarding the well-being and existence of a person. Based on recorded data and research results, stress can significantly affect human health. The paper is aimed to present, discuss and review the effects of stress on health of a person. The study includes the definition and data related to of stress. Also included are the different perspectives related to the study of the health effects of stress. There are different effects of health but the most importantly it can detrimentally affect the functions of the brain. The Nature of Stress A stress is triggered by a ‘stressor which is a condition or event that challenges or threatens a person’ in different ways. Included in the examples of stressors are threats to well-being such as injury or death. The factor of unpredictability and pressure can also lead to stress. Events such as examination results, work related requirements, and different problems in the daily life can also contribute to the stress that a person can have. Additional examples are extreme emotions, smoking and even drinking which bombard the body with negative stimuli and pressure (Coon and Mitterer, 2008, p.432). The main danger related to stress is the capacity to detrimentally affect the health of a person which can be attributed to the process that the body undergoes during such event. Based on studies, stress leads to the release of substances that increase inflammation as a manner of protection and response to threats. The said effect hinders the process of healing and can risk more infection, a condition which is evident in people with prolonged or severe diseases (Coon and Mitterer, 2008, p.432). Stress can cause the release of glucocorticoids through the activation of HPA or hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis which affects the processes in the brain. There are long-term effects that significantly affect the manner by which the brain works (Lupien, Mcewen, Gunnar and Heim, 2009, p.434). One example of stress is the exposure of the body to previous trauma which leads to post traumatic stress disorder symptoms. There is an established set of data that proves the increase of vulnerability due to the exposure in traumatic and stressful situations, e.g. high-risk occupations. In the study, heartbeat and cortisol levels are the main indicators of stress. The average peak heart rate was 90 bpm with the range of 75-90 bpm. There is also an evident difference in the cortisol level during a stressful situation compared to baseline levels (Regehr, LeBlanc, Jelley, Barath and Daciuk, 2007, p.679). For that matter, based on data reducing stress can help prevent different types of lifestyle illness such as heart ailments, stroke, lung cancer, etc. Lifestyle diseases are conditions caused by the negligence in health and improper habits detrimental to the body (Coon and Mitterer, 2008, p.426). Other ways to resolve the negative effects of stress on the health of a person are proper diagnosis and effective management methods. The Effects on Health in Different Stages of Life To fight the effects of stress on health, proper diagnosis is important which can be undertaken though clinical methods and through assessment of the different stressors. In the study by Regehr and colleagues, biological indicators of stress had been the main focus. Parameters such as cortisol level and heart rate are known indicators of stress. Included in the established causes of stress in acute situations are ‘low levels of social support, previous traumatic exposures, and pre-existing symptoms of traumatic stress (Regehr, LeBlanc, Jelley, Barath and Daciuk, 2007, p.675). The exposure to stress at different stages of life has ‘enduring’ effects on human brain. During the prenatal period, stress can hinder the development of different regions of the brain specifically those parts that function for the regulation of the HPA axis such as hippocampus, frontal cortex and the amygdala. During childhood, the development of the hippocampus can be affected because it is the part of the brain that continues to develop after birth. During adolescence, the part of the brain susceptible to stress is the frontal cortex since it is the part with major developmental process during the said stage in life. Stress in the frontal cortex can result in protracted glucocorticoid response to stress that can be brought to adulthood. During adulthood and old age, instead of development parts of the brain are in the stage of decrease in activity. Susceptibility of these parts is the main concern when it comes to the effects of stress and stress hormones produced (Lupien, Mcewen, Gunnar and Heim, 2009, p.434). The effects of stress is not only limited to the physiological and psychological aspects of a person’s health. Based on the study conducted on the relationship of stress to the different life events of a person and the socioeconomic disparities in health, significant connection had been achieved. Stress can also affect factors extrinsic to the person himself or herself. Results of the study revealed different points. One is that the clear connection between life events and other types of stressors and the socioeconomic position has been established. Another is cumulative relationship of the different negative lifetime events on the mortality of a person. Third is that high score in financial stress scale can be equated to the condition of health. Specifically, higher financial stress leads to severe or moderate functional limitations and fair or poor self rated health conditions (Lantz, House, Mero and Williams, 2005). Management of Stress and its Effects In the quest of the medical field to resolve the effects of stress on health, the management methods are considered to be the most essential concepts. Management of stress is important to prevent the onset of health conditions that can endanger the person’s life and to prevent the complications that can worsen the condition of a person with pre-existing conditions. Included in the possible methods that can be used are pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions such as psychological, behavioral, cognitive, relaxation, meditation, biofeedback and stress management (Linden, Spence, Barnett, Ramsden and Taenzer, 1999). Conclusion Based on the review of the effects of stress on the health of a person, there are different points that can be highlighted. One is that stress is a serious factor that can affect the health of a person to the point of mortality and death, thus, lifestyle diseases should be prevented. Another is that the severity of the effect of stress can be attributed to the fact that it targets the brain, thus, every aspect of a person’s health and well-being can be affected. Lastly, stress can affect any age on the basis of the level and severity of the exposure. Specific part of the brain affected by stress depends on the age of a person. In conclusion, stress is a superficially harmless factor that in reality can seriously and detrimentally affect health, thus, in taking care of one’s health injuries, diseases and stress are needed to be considered. References Coon, D. and Mitterer, J.O. (2008). Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. Cengage Learning. Lantz, P. M., House, J. S., Mero, R. P., and Williams, D. R. (2005). Stress, life events, and socioeconomic disparities in health: Results from the Americans’' changing lives study. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 46(3), 274-274-88. Linden, W., Spence, J. D., Barnett, P. A., Ramsden, V., and Taenzer, P. (1999). Recommendations on stress management [lifestyle modifications to prevent and control hypertension supplement]. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 160(9), S46-50. Lupien, S. J., Mcewen, B. S., Gunnar, M. R., and Heim, C. (2009). Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behavior and cognition. Nature Reviews. Neuroscience, 10(6), 434-45. Regehr, C., LeBlanc, V., Jelley, R. B., Barath, I., and Daciuk, J. (2007). Previous trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms as predictors of subjective and biological response to stress. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 52(10), 675-83. Read More