The body's stress response prepares us to deal with danger by increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and the release of stress hormones such as cortisol.
While this response is helpful during short-term emergencies, chronic (long-lasting) stress keeps these systems activated for too long, causing wear and tear on the body.
Psychophysiological Disorders
Psychophysiological disorders are physical illnesses that are caused or made worse by psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, anger, or depression.
The symptoms are real physical symptoms, even though emotional factors contribute to them.
Common Examples
| Body System | Disorders |
|---|
| Cardiovascular | High blood pressure (hypertension), coronary heart disease |
| Gastrointestinal | Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) |
| Respiratory | Asthma, allergies |
| Musculoskeletal | Low back pain, tension headaches |
| Skin | Acne, eczema, psoriasis |
Personality and Health
Research suggests certain personality characteristics may increase the risk of illness.
These include:
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Depression
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Anxiety
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Anger and hostility
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Neuroticism (frequent worry, sadness, and emotional instability)
People with these characteristics may experience more stress-related health problems.
Stress and the Immune System
The immune system protects the body against:
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Bacteria
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Viruses
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Parasites
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Other harmful microorganisms
When functioning normally, it helps keep us healthy.
However, prolonged stress weakens immune function, making people more vulnerable to illness.
Immune System Errors
1. Autoimmune Diseases
Sometimes the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own healthy tissues.
Examples include:
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Rheumatoid arthritis
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Lupus
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Hashimoto's thyroiditis
Symptoms depend on the part of the body affected.
2. Immunosuppression
Immunosuppression means the immune system becomes less effective.
As a result, people become more susceptible to:
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Colds
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Flu
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Infections
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Serious diseases
An example is HIV/AIDS, which weakens the immune system by destroying important immune cells.
Psychoneuroimmunology
Psychoneuroimmunology is the study of how:
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The brain
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The nervous system
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The endocrine (hormone) system
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The immune system
work together, and how psychological factors such as stress influence immune function.
Stress and Getting Sick
Research has shown that people experiencing chronic stress are more likely to become ill.
One well-known study:
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Interviewed healthy volunteers about stressful life experiences.
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Exposed them to the common cold virus.
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Found that people with long-term stress—especially work or relationship problems—were significantly more likely to develop colds than those with little chronic stress.
Stress and Cardiovascular Disease
Long-term stress increases the risk of cardiovascular disorders.
These include:
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High blood pressure (hypertension)
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Coronary heart disease
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Heart attack
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Heart failure
Stress contributes by:
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Raising blood pressure
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Increasing heart rate
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Keeping stress hormones elevated
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Increasing inflammation
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Hypertension is often called the "silent killer" because many people have no noticeable symptoms.
Untreated hypertension increases the risk of:
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Heart attack
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Stroke
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Heart failure
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Kidney disease
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Blindness
Stress is one of many factors that can contribute to high blood pressure.
Stressors Linked to Heart Disease
Research has found that cardiovascular problems are associated with many kinds of stress, including:
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Job strain
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Natural disasters
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Marital conflict
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Financial difficulties
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Traffic noise
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Discrimination
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High-pressure laboratory tasks (such as public speaking or mental arithmetic)
Depression and Heart Disease
Depression is linked to cardiovascular disease.
Research shows:
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People with depression are more likely to develop heart disease.
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People with heart disease often experience depression.
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More severe depression is associated with a higher risk of heart-related death.
Stress and Asthma
Stress does not directly cause asthma.
However, stress can:
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Trigger asthma attacks.
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Make existing asthma symptoms worse.
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Increase inflammation in the airways.
Stress and Tension Headaches
Stress is also associated with tension headaches.
Common characteristics include:
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Tightness around the head
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Pain in the neck and shoulders
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Muscle tension
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Mild to moderate headache
Emotional stress is one of the most common triggers.
Key Terms
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Psychophysiological disorder: A physical illness influenced by psychological factors.
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Immune system: The body's defense against disease.
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Autoimmune disease: A disorder in which the immune system attacks healthy body tissues.
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Immunosuppression: Reduced effectiveness of the immune system.
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Psychoneuroimmunology: The study of interactions among psychological processes, the nervous system, hormones, and immunity.
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Hypertension: Chronically high blood pressure.
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Coronary heart disease: Narrowing of the heart's arteries that reduces blood flow to the heart.
Easy-to-Remember Summary
Stress is helpful in emergencies, but long-term stress can damage health.
Chronic stress can:
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Weaken the immune system.
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Increase the risk of infections.
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Contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease.
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Worsen asthma.
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Trigger tension headaches.
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Increase the likelihood of psychophysiological disorders.
The key idea is that the mind and body are closely connected. Psychological stress can influence physical health, and managing stress is an important part of maintaining overall well-being.
