Stress and Illness/Disease

1. Stress and Illness/Disease Chapter 3

2. Chapter Overview • Psychosomatic disease involves the mind and the body; it is a real disease, not “just in the mind” • Stress decreases our immunity to many diseases and illnesses • Stress increases our blood pressure and serum cholesterol, thus increasing our chances of having hypertension, stroke, and coronary heart disease

3. Hot Reactors • Hot reactors overreact to stress • This type of person tends to: • become angry easily • be anxious or depressed • urinate frequently • experience gastrointestinal problems

4. Psychosomatic Disease • Process involving the mind affecting the body • Psychophysiological is used synonymously • Diagnosed as a real disease, manifested physically • Can be psychogenic (physical disease is caused by emotional stress) or somatogenic (mind increases body’s susceptibility to some diseases)

5. Stress and Immunology • Stress can decrease your white blood cell count • A decrease in white blood cells will lead to poor health • Immunological system includes the following white blood cell groups: • phagocytes • T cells • B cells All three identify and destroy foreign substances in the body

6. Interesting Research • Friedman and Booth-Kewley (1987) cite evidence of a disease-prone personality • Depression, anger/hostility, anxiety • Hans Eysenck (1988) demonstrated personality traits leading to: • cancer (unassertiveness, overpatient, avoiding conflicts, not venting) • heart disease (anger, hostility, aggressive)

7. Interesting Research (cont.) • A 1989 Princeton study showed a reduction in students’ antibody salivary IgA during stressful periods (exam day) • Dr. Candace Pert (2003) demonstrated a possible link between WBCs and neuropeptide production; relaxation may be able to increase effectiveness of immune system

8. Stress and Serum Cholesterol • Collect on the walls of your blood vessels • Can block the flow of oxygenated blood to the heart and brain • Studies show that one’s perception of a stressful situation can increase serum cholesterol levels

9. More Interesting Research • Friedman, Rosenman, and Carroll (1958) showed that deadlines/timelines for tax accountants increased serum cholesterol dramatically as April 15 drew closer • Medical students had their highest cholesterol levels just before their exams • Training military pilots showed high cholesterol levels during exam period

10. Hypertension • Excessive pressure of blood against the walls of arteries • Ruptured arteries to the heart can result in a myocardial infarction (heart attack) • Ruptured arteries to the brain can cause a cerebral hemorrhage

11. Hypertension – Some Stats • Blood pressure = systolic/diastolic • Normal = 120/80 mm Hg • High blood pressure = 140/90 mm Hg • 41% between 20-74 years of age are considered hypertensive • 16% between 20-24 years of age are considered hypertensive • Men > women • Blacks > whites

12. Contributing Factors • Genetics • Poor diet (obesity) • Cigarette smoking • Lack of exercise • High sodium intake • Stress

13. Stroke • Lack of oxygen to the brain because of a ruptured artery • Paralysis, speech impairment, motor function impairment, and/or death may occur • Stroke has been related to high blood pressure, diet, and stress

14. Coronary Heart Disease • Heart attacks kill more Americans than any other single cause of death • Major risk factors associated with CHD include high serum cholesterol, hypertension, and cigarette smoking • Stress and a Type A behavior (aggressive, competitive, time-urgent, hostile) have also been linked to CHD

15. Ulcers • Cuts in the walls of the stomach, duodenum, or intestines • During stress, norepinephrine causes capillaries in the stomach to constrict – thus, a decrease in mucous production • As a result, hydrochloric acid eats away at the stomach lining

16. Ulcers (cont.) • Recent information shows Helicobacter pylori often is the cause • Antibiotics rather than histamine blockers should be prescribed for ulcers • Ingestion of aspirin or other anti-inflammatories also can cause ulcers

17. Migraine Headaches • Constriction and dilation of the carotid arteries on one side of the head • Constriction phase (prodrome phase) usually occurs about one to two hours before the headache • When dilation of the carotid arteries occurs, chemicals stimulate adjacent nerve endings, causing pain

18. Migraine Headaches (cont.) • Migraines usually last about 6 hours • About 28 million Americans experience migraines, women > men • Costs businesses more than $13 million per year • Cause focuses on emotional stress and tension • Autogenic training is very effective in reducing the painful effects associated with a migraine

19. Tension Headaches • Caused by muscle tension to such areas as the forehead, jaw, or neck • People usually take aspirin, put heat on the tense muscles, or get a massage

20. Cancer • Ingested or inhaled carcinogens • Acquired viruses What happens? -- T-lymphocytes are reduced -- Cancer cells multiply, leading to tumors and subsequent organ damage -- Stress may expedite this process

21. Cancer Patients • Maintain a positive attitude • Use cognitive restructuring • Use visualization

22. Typical Cancer-Prone Person • Non-forgiving • Commonly uses self-pity • Hard to develop and maintain interpersonal relationships • Poor self-image

23. Allergies, Asthma, and Hayfever • Antigens enter • Antibodies attack by releasing chemicals • Histamine is one of these chemicals • When too many histamines are released, tissues swell, mucous increases, and air passages are constricted

25. An Emotional Disease? • Research • T-cells reduced • Cortisol increased

26. Did You Know? • A woman allergic to horses began to wheeze when shown only a picture of a horse! • Another woman, allergic to fish, had an allergic reaction to a toy fish and an empty fishbowl! (McQuade & Aikman)

27. Rheumatoid Arthritis • Inflammation of a joint, possibly caused by a faulty functioning of the immune system • Stress can precipitate arthritic attacks

28. Backaches • Muscle weakness and bracing is usual cause • Constant contractions found in certain personality types

29. TMJ Syndrome • TMJ patients may have: • facial pain • clicking or popping sound • earaches, ringing in ears • migraine headaches • dizziness • sensitive teeth • TMJ is usually brought on by bruxism

30. Bruxism • Stress can increase bruxism • Bruxism = grinding of the teeth What can be done? -- Relaxation techniques -- Biofeedback -- Dental mouthpiece

31. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder • PTSD results from an extreme psychological and/or physical event perceived as extremely distressing (e.g., threat to one’s life • Many hurricane and 9/11 survivors experienced symptoms of PTSD (sleeplessness, fear and helplessness, flashbacks, dreams and nightmares)

32. Stress and Other Conditions • Psychosocial Illnesses • anxiety • depression • physical symptoms cannot be separated from psychological or sociological • May lead to miscarriage • Increase the risk of sport injuries

33. Stress and Illness/Disease