Question

Discuss any five ways in which stress affects the health by upsetting the internal mechanism and balance of individuals.

Answer 1

Medical professionals believe there is a direct correlation between stress and one's own health. Heart disease, high blood pressure, ulcers, and even diabetes have all been linked to stress. It might interfere with our immune system's ability to function effectively.

1. Coronary heart disease: It is a general term for an illness caused by atherosclerosis, which is the narrowing of the coronary arteries, which are the blood vessels that supply the heart. The supply of oxygen and nutrients to the heart is partially or totally blocked when the arteries constrict or narrow. Heart attacks can happen when such severe deprivation takes place. Several research studies have connected long-term stress to coronary heart disease.
2. Hypertension: Excessive blood flow through the arteries results in hypertension, often known as high blood pressure. Since hypertension has no symptoms, it is a significant medical condition. Untreated hypertension can also have a negative impact on cognitive abilities, leading to issues with learning, memory, focus, abstract thought, mental flexibility, and other cognitive abilities. For many years, stress has been thought to play a role in the development of hypertension. Stress causes the body to release a flood of hormones. Because these hormones narrow blood arteries, blood pressure rises. Other people who are under stress turn to harmful lifestyle choices like drinking alcohol and having trouble sleeping. A rise in blood pressure could result from this.
   Chronic conflict and job stress might contribute to this condition. High rates of hypertension are associated with crowded, stressful, and noisy environments.
3. Diabetes: Diabetes is a chronic illness in which the body cannot properly regulate blood sugar due to a lack of insulin or insulin resistance. It affects the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, and increases the risk of hypertension and stroke.
   There are two types of diabetes: Type I (insulin-dependent) and Type II (non-insulin-dependent). Both types are affected by stress. Stress can trigger Type I diabetes in genetically vulnerable individuals and worsen the condition in diagnosed patients. During stress, cortisol is released, which increases blood sugar levels and reduces the effectiveness of insulin, leading to high blood sugar levels.
4. Asthma: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory condition that affects the airways of the lungs. Variable recurrent symptoms, such as wheezing, coughing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath, are its trademarks. One of the main causes of this disease is stress. The person is caught in a vicious cycle of stress, asthma, and anxiety as a result of the symptoms, which increase anxiety.
5. Immune functioning: Stress can negatively impact the immune system, leading to sickness. Psychoneuroimmunology investigates the relationship between the mind, brain, and immune system, including the impact of stress on the immune system. The immune system uses white blood cells (leucocytes) to identify and kill foreign substances (antigens), including viruses. It also triggers the synthesis of antibodies. The immune system contains many types of white blood cells (leucocytes), such as T cells, B cells, and natural killer cells.
   1. T cells eliminate intruders, while T-helper cells boost the immune system.
   2. B cells produce antibodies.
   3. Natural Killer cells combat viruses and tumours.