Health Implications of Chronic Stress

What is stress?

Stress can be defined as any type of change that causes physical, emotional or psychological strain.

Stress causes increased muscle tension which has a direct effect on increasing your pain levels. Therefore, reduction of stress and muscle tension helps to reduce your pain. Stress saps your energy and reduces your ability to cope with the pain and your life.

Types of stress

Acute stress - a very short-term type of stress that can either be positive (like excitement at preparing for a deadline) or distressing (what we normally think of when we think of 'stress'); this is the type of stress we most often encounter in day-to-day life (e.g. flying, when you have a fear of it or having to make a presentation to colleagues when you are naturally shy.)

Chronic stress - the type of stress that seems never-ending and inescapable, like the stress of a bad marriage, being a carer for a terminally ill parent or stress in the workplace, (coping with these types of stress can lead to burnout/ill effects on your health unless there is some stress management.)

Health implications of chronic stress

When faced with chronic stress, people begin to have physical symptoms. At first they can be relatively mild, like chronic headaches and frequent colds.

Later, however, more serious health problems may develop. Here are some stress-influenced conditions:

depression

diabetes

hair loss

heart disease

hyperthyroidism

obesity

obsessive-compulsive or anxiety disorder

sexual dysfunction

tooth and gum disease

ulcers

It has been estimated that as many as 90% of doctor's visits are for symptoms that are at least partially stress-related!

'We play Calmtime every day at tea-time and what used to be a chaotic and stressful time is now calm and relaxed. And we enjoy the music.' Cynthia, Bristol

Chronic stress: how it affects your body and how you can stay healthier

American and Canadian researchers conducting a huge study on the effects of stress on the immune system recently concluded that it all depended on the type of stress and how individuals responded to it. They examined 293 studies involving 19,000 people.

Chronic stress - the most damaging

The most damaging type of stress they found was chronic stress, caused, for example, by unemployment or caring for a relative with mental illness - both situations which have no end in sight. These have damaging effects on the whole immune system. The key to it all, the researchers concluded, was whether the stress was never-ending or short-term. It was discovered that even the extreme stress of losing a partner was nowhere near as bad as chronic stress.

Chronic stress doesn't suit us as we get older

Another thing that was discovered, not surprisingly, is that the older we get the more susceptible we are to stress. Lawrence Whalley, Professor of Mental Health at Aberdeen University and author or 'The Ageing Brain' says: 'As we grow older -between about 45 and 55 - our stress responses become more exaggerated.'

He says that it's a fact, being prone to great anxiety in stressful situations increases with age. "All old people (50 plus) find stress very unpleasant: even the kind of stress a young person might find intoxicating."

Professor Stephen Palmer of City University in London and the Centre for Stress Management says: "I would say stress is always bad. A little bit of pressure can get you out of bed in the morning and give you focus. As you grow older there is more likely to be long-term chronic stress (eg. caring for relatives, ill health etc.) - the very type that is bad for you."

'Whenever I feel strung out, like after a really pressurised day at work, I listen to Calmtime and that seems to put me into a much calmer and happier state for the remainder of that day.' David, Bristol

Help for stress related problems

"I haven't got time to relax!" the late Richard James

Though it may seem counterproductive to set aside time to relax in the midst of a busy lifestyle, doing so can actually help us to increase our productivity, accomplish more in less time, and feel happier overall.

"Regular elicitation of the relaxation response has been scientifically proven to be an effective treatment for a wide range of stress related disorders." Prof. Herbert Benson MD

Research has indicated that regularly relaxing can have a beneficial effect on a number of stress related health problems. In fact it can help any health problem that is caused or exacerbated by chronic stress.

Here are a few examples of health problems that can be helped by relaxation include conditions:

gastrointestinal

Irritable Bowel Syndrome/Ulcers/Heart Burn

skin

Eczema/Psoriasis/Dermatitis/Urticaria/Acne

respiratory

Asthma/Emphysema/Chronic Obstructive Airways Disease

psychological

Anxiety/Stress/Depression/Panic attacks

immune

Rheumatoid Arthritis/Herpes Simplex/Colds and Flu

neurological

Multiple Sclerosis/Migraine/Epilepsy

reproductive

Infertility/Childbirth/Menopause/Premenstrual Syndrome

Endometriosis/Impotence

cardiovascular

Heart beat irregularities/High Blood Pressure/Heart Disease

Angina Pectoris/Raynaulds

musculoskeletal

Headaches/Arthritis/Back pain/Fibromyalgia

Muscular tension produces aches and pains, particularly in the neck and back.

endocrine

Diabetes Mellitus

general

Insomnia/Chronic Pain

Daphne Nancholas has for the past 10 years helped people overcome stress related problems. She is a published author and she and her partner Graham Smith have produced a relaxation CD for stress management - http://www.calmtime.co.uk They live in Cornwall and are part way through producing their next CD. Daphne's other site is: http://www.daphnehomeopath.co.uk