The Main Effects Of Stress On The Human Body And Behavior

Stress is very well known for just what it means: STRESS. Its effect on human beings from a local and a global standpoint is far greater than any of us imagine. Stress can overtake one’s body physically, mentally, emotionally, as well as behavioral aspects. This is not something to take lightly. This is actually very serious. If you notice, it’s not just older people that die this day and time with heart attacks, suicide, and things of this nature. People of all ages. Older people, younger people, and even really young people. Children, yes, I said children. Don’t automatically think that stress only affects older people that have lived a longer

Stress Is the body’s way of responding to the hectic lives most of us live, whether good or bad. The body releases chemicals into the bloodstream, which creates a rush of energy and strength If an individual is feeling stressed. This energy can prove useful if an individual is in physical danger. Because it enables a person’s survival instinct kicks in; it is often described as ‘fight or flight.’ In addition, stress can also have a negative effect on the body, for example: suffering from stress and leaving it unchecked can contribute to health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity, and diabetes.

Stress is a big factor in everyday life. It influences how we approach life and events. Stress is why people run tight schedules and diet regularly. The power stress has is a negative effect over our brain and our body. Many people do not understand how to cope with stress. Therefore, people suffer from physical illness due to stress. Learning is not taking place when someone undergoes stress.

Stress has been linked to hypertension, heart attacks, diabetes, asthma, chronic pain, allegeries, headaches, skin disorders, cancer, immune system weakness and decrease blood count (Cummings et al, 2005). It has also been linked to an increase risk of alcoholism and drug use. High levels of stress can lead to higher absenteeism, larger staff turnover and low productivity. The symptoms are evident in the quantitative data, with an

The amygdala is made up of a group of nuclei located in the medial temporal lobe of the brain. (Mannironi, et al., 2013) The amygdala is believed to be key in stress response integration with its extensive network of efferent outcrops to other regions of the brain. (Mannironi, et al., 2013) Stress mediators such as adrenaline, cortisol, and corticotrophin releasing hormone, contribute to neuronal operative change and plasticity that are instrumental contributory to the stress response. (Mannironi, et al., 2013) Acute psychological stress creates a instant surge of hormone release, neuronal activation, and neurotransmission. (Mannironi, et al., 2013) This activation has an intense effect on the brain, leading to structural modification in the synaptic connectivity and dendritic spine morphology. (Mannironi, et al., 2013)

Stress is a common health issue for the body and mind, but it can be managed if not avoid.

The major focus of this chapter was stress and the effect it has on the body. Stress is the process by which we perceive and respond to certain events, called stressors, that we appraise as threatening or challenging. The concept of appraisal is the important part here. Stress can be affected through this psychological filter, either making the stressor feel threatening or challenging. The way we perceive it can have either positive or negative effects. Stress, when perceived negatively can lead to issues such as coronary heart disease or increased susceptibleness to colds (Myers, 2014).

Stress is one of the number one causes that contribute to people’s health problems. According to Weber.edu, “in Healthy People 2000, a report from the U.S.

The nervous system is largely impacted by chronic stress. When the body is undergoing acute stress, the sympathetic nervous system sends signals from the brain to physically react; this is also known as the fight or flight response. When these signals react, the heart rate and respiratory rate increases, blood vessels in the arms and legs enlarge, and glucose levels in the bloodstream increase (Stress Effects on the Body). Although acute in nature, prolonged exposure to this physiological effect on the nervous systems causes severe problems in other areas of the body.

Sometimes stress can be helpful and can motivate an individual to work harder[6]. This is called eustress. Contrarily, the type of stress that leads to negative behaviour is distress. It is unhelpful and can cause people to stress more and be unable to cope with the problem[6]. Stress can originate from a number of different sources including major life events such as an illness moving, the workplace, and school. Without the appropriate coping mechanism for stress, these events can lead to adverse health effects[6]. Researchers have found that stress can be linked to a number of illnesses including

According to Han et. al. 2012, a complex condition with the factors of emotion, cognitive and biology is stress. Long term and short term disabilities result from excessive stress. The central nervous system then is activated. The response of the body differs depending on the type of stress experienced.

interruption of life plans, changes in body and self-esteem, amendment in social role and lifestyle.

Psychological stress is a result of many factors and should be dealt with very carefully. Stress can be defined as “An excess of demand made upon the adaptive capabilities of the mind and body”.(Joseph 1). Another way of putting it, is that there are some things that put certain demands on us. The effects of stress should not be limited to unpleasant emotional states. Many studies have concluded that the effects on our physical health from stress can be extremely detrimental. These adverse physical effects include heart disease and formations of cancer. There are also some societal issues that psychological stress can hamper.

Psychological stress is pressure placed on a person to adapt, cope, or adjust to a situation (Rathus, 2016, p.284). The result of prolonged stress can affect a person’s mood, pleasure experience, and have harmful effects on physical health (Rathus, 2016, p.284). Society in the twenty first century places high demands on people. Technology makes it very difficult to separate work life, school life, and home life. Today, society places a high value on a busy lifestyle for individuals. For example, many places of business are open twenty-four hours a day. In addition to societal pressures, attending a university adds to the stressors a person may experience. Going to school not only includes classroom time but it also includes homework,

Stress is also linked low fertility in one’s reproductive organs, and can cause problems during pregnancy or one’s menstrual cycle (www.everydayhealth.com). This happens when one is overwhelmed with the stress he or she is going through in their lives. No one person is the same, meaning stressors as well as stress levels differ for each individual. This is why it is hard for scientists to reach the core because it is a subjective sensation related with a variety of symptoms that differ for each of us. Because of this, stress is not always a synonym for distress. Situations like a steep roller coaster ride that cause fear and anxiety for some can prove highly pleasurable for others (www.stress.org). Each person also responds to stress differently. There are numerous physical as well as emotional responses to stress. Stress can cause an ocean of different emotions that are often times unpredictable. It can have wide ranging effects on people’s emotions, mood and behavior (www.stress.org). Stress has said to have been America’s number one leading health problem. It has been shown that stress levels have escalated in children, teenagers, college students and the elderly for reasons that of which have lead to: increased crime, violence, and other threats to personal safety; pernicious peer pressures that lead to substance abuse and other unhealthy life style habits; social isolation and loneliness; the erosion of family and religious