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Understanding Stress and Disease
How stress influences physical disease
• Immune system protects body against stress-related diseases
The immune system
• Protects body against invasion of foreign material– Viruses– Bacteria– Foreign tissue (e.g. heart transplant)
• Removes damaged cells
Immune system disorders
• Immune deficiency– AIDS
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
– Caused by the HIV virus• Human Immunodeficiency Virus• Destroys the T-cells in the immune system
• HIV destroys immune system - AIDS - vulnerable to bacterial, viral, and other diseases
Transplant rejection
• Immune system tries to fight the foreign tissue
• Drugs given to reduce effects of immune system
Factors decreasing the immune system
• Stress• Relationship conflict• Care giving - e.g. Alzheimer’s disease
How stress can act to create diseases
• Under stress, people– Smoke more– Drink more– Use illicit drugs– Eat unhealthy foods– Get less sleep
• These actions increase risk for various diseases
• The higher the person’s stress, the more likely they will become ill.
Common cold
• Exposure to virus + stress = cold
Cardiovascular disease & heart attack
• Stress can increase the risk, and trigger heart attack in people with heart disease
• Depression, anger, & tension can all increase the risk of heart attack
Psychoneuroimmunology
• Focus of interactions among– Behavior– Nervous system– Endocrine system– Immune system
Psychoneuroimmunology
• Behavior effects immune system• Immune system affects health
Stress & psychological disorders
• Depression– Increased with negative outlook and
ruminating over problems
• Anxiety disorders– PTSD
• Intrusive memories• Recurrent dreams• Psychological and Physiological distress
– Most people experiencing traumatic events do not develop PTSD
Stress & psychological disorders
• No strong relationship between stressful experiences and psychological disorders
• While stress may increase the risk for physical and mental problems, most people under stress do not develop a disease, and remain healthy