Medical Health Encyclopedia

One survey revealed that men who had a more intense response to stressful situations, such as waiting in line or problems at work, were more likely to have strokes than those who did not report such distress. In some people prolonged or frequent mental stress causes an exaggerated increase in blood pressure. In fact, a 2001 study has linked for the first time a higher risk for stroke in adult Caucasian men and elevated blood pressure during times of stress.

Effect on the Immune System

Chronic stress affects the immune system in complex ways, which may have various effects.

Susceptibility to Infections. Chronic stress appears to blunt the immune system's response to infections and may even impair a person's response to immunizations. A number of studies have shown that subjects under chronic stress have low white blood cell counts and are vulnerable to colds. And once any person catches a cold or flu, stress can exacerbate symptoms. People who harbor herpes virus or HIV may be more susceptible to viral activation following exposure to stress. Even more serious, some research has found that HIV-infected men with high stress levels progress more rapidly to AIDS when compared to those with lower stress levels.

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Inflammatory Response. Some evidence suggests that chronic stress triggers an over-production of certain immune factors called cytokines, which in excess levels can have very damaging effects. In fact, such findings may partly explain the association between chronic stress and a number of diseases, including heart disease and asthma.

Cancer

Current evidence does not support the idea that stress causes cancer or recurrence in cancer survivors. For example, a 2002 study reported no association between stressful life events and recurrence in women who had been treated for breast cancer. Nevertheless, some animal studies suggest that lack of control over stress (not simply stress itself) had negative effects on immune function and contributed to tumor growth. Although stress reduction techniques have no effect on survival rates, studies show that they are very helpful in improving a cancer patient's quality of life.

Gastrointestinal Problems