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