Stress as a Trigger for Disease

If you're not feeling well or have a chronic disease, evaluating your emotional or psychological stress may help you find a cure.

"Research has shown over and over again that stress can exacerbate pre-existing physical conditions, and it can even bring on conditions that have not yet surfaced," says psychologist Michael Heitt, Psy.D., of the faculty and staff assistance program at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore. "These can be anything from dermatological problems like acne or hives, to gastrointestinal problems and cardiac disease. When people say 'It's all in your head,' I say 'Yes, but your head's connected to the body.'" Stress exists in your mind -- but it's also evident in your stomach, heart, muscles and even your toes.

Stress as a trigger

Stress-related health problems can be the basis for many doctor visits.  Dr. Heitt suggests that stress often is a trigger for a malady waiting to happen. For example, suppose Joe has inherited a predisposition to develop a depressive disorder sometime in his life; for him, a difficult breakup with his girlfriend may be all that's needed to trigger a bout of severe depression.

"Too much stress on the body or mind can make the immune system function poorly, leading to increased susceptibility to a wide variety of illnesses," says Dr. Heitt. "In fact, stress may affect every cell in your body," says Ronald Glaser, Ph.D., a researcher at Ohio State University Medical School. During stressful times, your body produces various chemicals, including cortisol, an immune-suppressing hormone. The more cortisol produced, the weaker your immune cells become and the more susceptible you are to illness.

"A one-day stressor isn't going to make a big change in your risk of getting a cold, for example," says Dr. Glaser. "But a chronic stressor that lasts a few weeks could dampen your immune response and create a risk of disease." When you're faced with extreme stress, the stomach limits digestion to conserve energy, blood vessels constrict to direct blood flow to major muscle groups, hormone levels change, blood pressure rises, and so on.

Migraine headaches, sleep disorders, backaches, skin rashes, fatigue, irritability, headache, depression, worry, mood swings, chest pain, anxiety, upset stomach, ulcers and high blood pressure are common reactions to stress.

Keeping stress in check

No one can avoid all stress -- and a certain amount actually is good for you. But it's always best to keep unhealthy levels in check when possible. By gaining a better understanding of the stress/disease connection, you can reduce your stress and, in turn, improve your health and well-being.