Disease and Stress

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In many stressful situations the body's reponses can improve our performance.We become more energetic,more alert,better able to take effcetive action.But when stress is encountered continually,the body's reactions are more likely to be harmful than helpful to us.The continual speeding up of bodily reactions and the production of stress-related hormones seem to make people more susceptible to heart disease.And stress reactions can reduce the disease-fighting effectiveness of body's immune system,thereby increasing susceptibility to illnesses,ranging from colds to cancer.Stress may also contribute to disease in less direct ways by influencing moods and behavior.People,under stress,may become anxious or depressed and as a result may eat too much or too little,have sleep difficulties,or fail to exercise.These behavioral changes may turn be harmful to their health.In addition,people are more likly to pay attention to certain bodily sensations such as aches and pains when they are under stress and to think they are sick.If the person were not under stress,the same bodily sensations might not be perceived as symptoms and the person might continue to feel well.Some researchers have suggested that assuming the role of a sick person is one way in which certain people try to cope with stress.Instead of dealing with the stressful situation directly,these people fall sick.After all,it is often more acceptable in our society to be sick and to seek medical help than it is to admit that one can not cope with the stresses of life.