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| disease process is thought to arise as a result of factors such as the physiological effect of certain hormones from the adrenal and pituitary glands, the impact of the inflammation process and a general state of lowered resistance. The actual disease that manifests itself depends on a range of factors, including genetics, physical weakness and even specifically learned bodily responses. |
| This helps explain the effects of life changes or events on health. Life changes require adjustments that might produce physiological reactions. Moreover, sustained and unsuccessful attempts at coping with change can eventually lower bodily resistance, thus enhancing the probability of illness. The more frequent and severe the life changes we experience, the more likely we are to become ill. As examples consider the following: |
| Heart disease. |
| Stress contributes to heart disease in many ways. During periods of stress, the blood pressure rises and the pulse increases, placing an increased burden on the heart. Stress includes changes in blood chemistry, such as elevated cholesterol levels, that promote atherosclerosis. Finally, the coronary arteries that supply blood to the heart muscle itself narrow, reducing the amount of oxygen available to the heart muscle. |
| Infectious diseases. |
| Excessive stress reduces the effectiveness of the immune response and thus increases the risk of infection. Many people find that they experience colds mostly during stressful periods. Similarly, both oral and genital herpes attacks tend to develop during periods of high stress. |
| Cancer. |
| As with infectious diseases, excessive stress increases the risk of cancer by reducing the efficiency of the immune system. In every person, cells become cancerous from time to time. If the immune system is working properly, these cancerous cells are usually destroyed quickly. |
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