In many stressful situations, the body's responses can improve our performance - we become more energetic, more alert, better able to take effective action. But when stress is encountered continually, the body's reactions are more likely to be harmful than helpfull to us. The continual speeding up of bodily reactions and the production of stress-related hormones seem to make people more susceptible to heart disease. And stress reactions can reduse the disease-fighting effectiveness of the body's immune system, thereby increasing susceptibility to illnesses ranging from colds to cancer. Other diseases that can result at least in part from stress include arthritis, asthma, migraine headaches, and ulcers. Workers who expirience the greatest degree of job pressures have been found to be especially likely to suffer from a large number of illnesses. Moreover, many studies have shown that people who have experienced major changes in their lives are at unusually high risk for a variety of illnesses.
As an example of stress-induced illness, take the case of stomach ulcers, small lesions in the stomach wall that afflict one out twenty people at some point in their lives. Ulcers are a common disorder among people who work in occupations that make heavy psychological demands, from assebly-line workers to air-traffic controllers. In many cases, stress is the culprit. Stress leads to increased secretion of hydrochloric acid in the stomach. Hydrochloric acid normally helps to break down foods during disestion, but in excess amounts it can eat away the stomach lining, producing ulcers.
Stress may also contribute to disease in less direct ways, by influencing moods and behavior.People under stress may become anxious or depressed and as a result may eat too much or too little, have sleep difficulties, smoke or drink more, or fail to exercise.These behavioral changes may, in turn, be harmful to their health. In addition, people are more likely to pay attention to certain bodily sensations, such as aches and pains, when they are under stress and to decide that they are "sick". If the person were not under stress, the same bodily sensations might not be percieved as symptoms and the person might continue to feel "well". Some researchers have suggested that assuming the role of a "sick person" is one way in which certain people try to cope with stress. Instead of dealing with the stressful situation directly, these people fall sick. After all, it is often more acceptable in our society to be sick and to seek medical help, than it is to admit that one cannot cope with the stress of life.
