Stress is the condition that results when person-environment transactions lead the individual to perceive a discrepancy, whether real or not, between the demands of a situation and the resources of the persons biological, psychological or social systems. In medical terms, stress is the disruption of homeostasis through physical or psychological stimuli. Stressful stimuli can be mental, physiological, anatomical or physical reactions.
Common factors of stress
Negative and Positive stressors can lead to stress. Thre is some common categories and examples of stressors include:
Sensory: pain, bright light
Life events: birth and deaths, marriage, and divorce
Responsibilities: lack of money, unemployment
Work/study: exams, project deadlines
Personal relationships: conflict, deception
Lifestyle: heavy drinking, insufficient sleep
Early life exposure (e.g. child abuse) can permanently alter an individual's stress response
Environmental: Lack of control over environmental circumstances, such as food, housing, health, freedom, or mobility
Social: Struggles with conspecific individuals and social defeat can be potent sources of chronic stresses
Effects of Stress
The behavioral effects of stress: The behavioral effects of an over-stressed lifestyle are easy to explain. When under pressure, some people are more likely to drink heavily or smoke, as a way of getting immediate chemical relief from stress.
Stress and heart disease: The link between stress and heart disease is well established. If stress is intense, and stress hormones are not ‘used up’ by physical activity, our raised heart rate and high blood pressure put tension on arteries and cause damage to them. As the body heals this damage, artery walls scar and thicken, which can reduce the supply of blood and oxygen to the heart.
Other effects of stress
Stress has been also been found to damage the immune system, which explains why we catch more colds when we are stressed. It may intensify symptoms in diseases that have an autoimmune component, such as rheumatoid arthritis. It also seems to affect headaches and irritable bowel syndrome, and there are now suggestions of links between stress and cancer.
Stress is also associated with mental health problems
The direct effects of stress in other areas of health are still under debate. In some areas (for example in the formation of stomach ulcers) diseases traditionally associated with stress are now attributed to other causes.
Prevention:
These steps will help to prevent stress in your life
Set realistic goals and limits for yourself.
Put things into perspective and try not to get upset about insignificant or relatively unimportant matters.
Take stress, time management, or anger management classes.
Find activities that you enjoy and set aside time to participate in them on a regular basis.
Participate in regular physical exercise.
Maintain a positive outlook.
Set goals and break them into easily achievable tasks.
Reward yourself for the good things that you do each day.
Take stress seriously!
Thank You.
By: Md. Kamal Hussain, BIT,MBA/MHA, MAHMA(USA),MHMN(UK), CSS, CHQM(USA)
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