Running Header: WHAT IS STRESS? 1

What is stress and where are the common sources?

Lorie Francisco

Bryant & Stratton College

PSYC101

M. Gettle

February 16, 2014 (Updated)

WHAT IS STRESS? 2

What is stress and where are the common sources?

Our immune system helps guard our body from germs, viruses, and other threats. Your

daily activity can help or hamper your immune system. If you do not manage your stress level it

will affect your immune system in a negative way. This paper reviews 4 broad categories of

“Effects of stress on the immune system”, including; What is stress and the immune system, Side

effects of stress, Types of stress and Coping with stress.

Stress is a condition that is often characterized by symptoms of physical or emotional

tension. It is a reaction to a situation where a person feels threatened or anxious. Stress can be

positive (e.g., preparing for a wedding) or negative (e.g., dealing with a natural disaster).

(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coping with Stress) Physical changes in your

body. Your heart beats faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and your

senses become sharper. Preparing you to fight or flee form the danger. (Helpguide.org, 2013,

Authors: Smith M., Segal R., M.A., and Segal, Jeanne, Ph D.)

Immune system is the system of the body that recognizes and destroys foreign agents

(antigens) that invade the body. Our immune system is made up of a network of cells, tissues,

and organs that work together to protect the body. White blood cells, also called leukocytes (say:

LOO-kuh-sytes), are part of this defense system. There are two basic types of these germ-

fighting cells. Phagocytes (say: FAH-guh-sytes), which chew up invading germs. Lymphocytes

(say: LIM-fuh-sytes), which allow the body to remember and recognize previous invaders.

Leukocytes are found in lots of places, including your spleen, and organ in your belly that filters

blood and helps fight infections. Leukocytes also can be found in bone marrow, which is a thick,

spongy jelly inside your bones.

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Your lymphatic (say: lim-FAH-tik) system is home to these germ-fighting cells. The

lymph nodes contain clusters of immune system cells. Normally your lymph nodes are small and

round. When they're are swollen this means your immune system is hard at work fighting the

germ. (Your Immune System, Yamini Durani, MD (2012). Kids Health)

Side effects of stress starts with your Brain. When your body goes on high alert because

of a real or perceived threat, your brain sets off your fight-or flight alarm system, triggering your

adrenal glands to release a flood of hormones -- including, adrenaline and cortisol, which

increase your heart rate and blood pressures. Roughly 25% of people say stress give them an

upset stomach or indigestion, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association.

Here's why: Prolonged anxiety slows digestion on your nervous system directs its energy toward

the organs and muscles most critical to survival. This, in turn, can cause nausea, constipation,

cramping, and bloating. Stress-prone people are about 40% more likely to develop mild

cognitive impairment, according to a study from Rush University. Researchers believe that high

levels of stress hormones may damage or shrink the hippocampus (an area deep in the brain that's

responsible for long-term memory). Chronic Stress can increase your risk of heart attack or

stroke. A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that drama with a spouse

of close friend could increase your risk of heart problems by up to 34 percent. Fertility trouble

caused by the hormones released by your body's stress response may suppress ovulation

according to research from Emory University School of Medicine. A separate study found that

women undergoing IVF were 2.6 times more likely to get pregnant if they also participated in a

stress-management program. (Side Effects Of Stress: How Stressing Out Hurts Your Body,

Emma Haak. Huffingtonpost).

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People with gastrointestinal disorders and diseases like gastroesophageal reflux disease

(GERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), ulcerative colitis, and peptic ulcer disease, symptoms

may become worse.

Skin problems such as psoriasis, eczema, acne and rosacea can worse when under stress.

Stress can bring on cold sores and fever blisters. (Stress Management, Side Effects of Stress.

Healthline Editorial Team, 2010 Medically Reviewed by Andrea Baird, MD).

Acute stress is most common form of stress. Acute stress is short term. The most

common symptoms of Acute Stress are: emotional distress, tension headache, back pain, jaw

pain, muscular tensions, heartburn, acid stomach, flatulence, diarrhea constipation and irritable

bowel syndrome, elevated blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, sweaty palms, heart palpitations,

dizziness, migraine headaches, cold hands or feet, shortness of breath and chest pain. (The

Stress Solution, Lyle H. Miller, PhD & Alma Deli Smith, PhD Stress: The different kinds of

stress, American Psychological Association).

Chronic Stress is the grinding stress that wears people away day after day and year after

year. This type of stress destroys bodies’ minds and lives. It’ comes when a person never sees a

way out of a miserable situation. Some chronic stresses come from traumatic, early childhood

experience that become internalized and remain forever painful and present. Chronic stress kills

through suicide, violence, heart attack, stroke and even cancer. A persons physical and mental

resources are depleted through long-term stress. The symptoms of chronic stress (long-term

stress) are difficult to treat and may require extended medical as well as behavioral treatment and

stress management. (The Stress Solution, Lyle H. Miller, PhD & Alma Deli Smith, PhD Stress:

The different kinds of stress, American Psychological Association)

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Coping with stress is easier if you learn your own stress signals. People experience stress

in different ways. You may had a hard time concentrating or making decisions, feel angry or

irritable, or experience headaches, muscle tension, or a lack of energy. Gauge your stress

signals. (Psych, Rathus, Spencer A.)

Find healthy ways to manage stress. Consider healthy, stress-reducing activities such as

meditation, exercising, or talking things out with friends or family. Keep in mind that unhealthy

behaviors develop over time and can be difficult to change. Don’t take on too much at once.

Focus on changing only one behavior at a time. (Psych, Rathus, Spencer A.)

Stress is a feeling that we get when we are under pressure. Our immune system protects

us from foreign agents and unhealthy cells. Chronic stress is a long-term stress that depletes a

person’s physical and mental resources that can lead to suicide, violence and heart attack and

stroke. There are several stress-reducing activities like medication and exercise. If we learn to

recognize our stress signals and use healthy ways of coping. It will make it easier on our immune

system.

The overall effect of stress associated with work, family life and money are a fact of

modern day life. People who are often stressed have a greater change of experiencing anxiety,

fatigue, problems sleeping and have an increased chance of developing a chronic disease.

Chronic Stress wears away at your immune system day after day after day. If you can find

healthier ways of managing your stress your have a greater chance for a healthier immune

system.

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References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Coping with Stress. Retrieved from

http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pub/coping_with_stress_tips.html

Smith M., Segal R., M.A., & Segal, Jeanne, Ph D. (2013). Stress Symptoms, Signs, and Causes:

The Effects of Stress Overload and What You Can Do About It. Retrieved from

http://www.helpguide.org/about.htm

Durani, Yamini MD (2012). Your Immune System. Kids Health. Retrieved from

http://kidshealth.org/kid/htbw/immune.html#

Haak, Emma. Side Effects Of Stress: How Stressing Out Hurts Your Body.

Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/22/effects-of-stress-side-effects-

of-stress_n_2688378.html

Baird, Andrea MD (2010). Stress Management, Side Effects of Stress. Healthline Editorial

Team. Retrieved from http://www.healthline.com/health/stress-side-effects

Lyle H. Miller, PhD & Alma Deli Smith, PhD. The Stress Solution, Stress: The different kinds

of stress, American Psychological Association. Retrieved from

ihttp://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress-kinds.aspx.

Psych, Rathus, Spencer A.