Stress and health

1. Stress and health

2. What is stress Stress can be defined as the brain's response to any change that can be positive or negative, real or perceived, short-term, or long-term, minor or major: traveling for a yearly vacation moving to another home winning a race, watching a scary movie, riding a rollercoaster marriage or divorce serious illness car accident exposure to violence

3. How does stress affect the body Not all stress is bad, it can be life-saving in some situations: The nerve chemicals and hormones released during such stressful times, prepares the body to face a threat or flee to safety: FIGHT OR FLIGHT. your pulse quickens, you breathe faster, your muscles tense, your brain uses more oxygen and increases activity—all functions aimed at survival. In the short term, it can even boost the immune system.

4. Stress reaction

5. Chronic stress The body's stress-response system is usually self-regulating. It decreases hormone levels and enables your body to return to normal once a perceived threat has passed. As adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, heart rate and blood pressure return to baseline levels, and other systems resume their regular activities. But when the stressors of your life are always present, leaving you constantly feeling stressed, tense, nervous or on edge, that fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on.

6. Chronic stress Chronic stress comes when a person never sees a way out of a miserable situation, it's the stress of poverty, of dysfunctional families, of being trapped in an unhappy marriage or in a despised job or career. The worst aspect of chronic stress is that people get used to it. They forget it's there. People are immediately aware of acute stress because it is new; they ignore chronic stress because it is old, familiar, and sometimes, almost comfortable!

7. Chronic stress and health The long-term activation of the stress-response system — and the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones — can disrupt almost all your body's processes. This increases the risk of numerous health problems, including: Heart disease Sleep problems Digestive problems Depression Obesity Memory impairment Worsening of skin conditions, such as eczema

8. Can psychological stress cause cancer? Although stress can cause a number of physical health problems, the evidence that it can cause cancer is weak. Some studies have indicated a link between various psychological factors and an increased risk of developing cancer, but others have not. Apparent links between psychological stress and cancer could arise in several ways. For example, people under stress may develop certain behaviors, such as smoking, overeating, or drinking alcohol, which increase a person’s risk for cancer

9. Why you react to life stressors the way you do Your reaction to a potentially stressful event is different from anyone else's. How you react to stressors in your life includes such factors as: Genetics.Overactive or underactive stress responses may stem from slight differences in genes. Life experiences. Strong stress reactions sometimes can be traced to early environmental factors.

10. Learning to react to life stressors in a healthy way Stressful events are a fact of life. And you may not be able to change your current situation. But you can take steps to manage the impact these events have on you. Stress management strategies include: Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise and plenty of sleep Giving up the bad habits as to much caffeine, smoking, alcohol Practicing relaxation techniques Fostering healthy friendships Having a sense of humor Seeking professional counseling when needed

12. Depression

13. Definition Depression is a feeling of sadness intense enough to interfere with functioning. It may follow a recent loss or other sad event but is out of proportion to that event and lasts beyond an appropriate length of time. People who become depressed typically do so in their mid teens, 20s, or 30s, although depression can begin at almost any age, including during childhood

14. What is depression? When doctors talk about depression, they mean the medical illness called major depression. Someone who has major depression has symptoms of depression nearly every day, all day, for 2 weeks or longer. There is also a minor form of depression that causes less severe symptoms. Both kinds of depression have the same causes and treatment.

15. What is depression Womenare twice as likely as men to experience depression. The reason for this is unknown, but changes in a woman's hormone levels may be related to depression.

16. Symptoms of depression Emotional symptoms Crying easily or for no reason Feeling guilty or worthless Feeling restless, irritated, and easily annoyed Feeling sad, numb, or hopeless Losing interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy (including sex) Thinking about death or suicide

17. Symptoms of depression Physical symptoms Changes in appetite (eating more than usual, or eating less than usual) Feeling very tired all the time Having other aches and pains that don't get better with treatment Having trouble paying attention, recalling things, concentrating, and making decisions Headaches, backaches, or digestive problems Sleeping too much, or having problems sleeping Unintended weight loss or gain

18. What causes depression? Depression may be caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Sometimes there aren't enough chemical messengers (called neurotransmitters) in the brain. Examples of neurotransmitters are: • serotonin, • norepinephrine • dopamine

19. What causes depression A chemical imbalance in the brain may be caused by one or more of the following: Genes. Sometimes depression is hereditary, meaning it runs in your family. A medical condition. Problems with thyroid, nutrient deficiencies, or chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, or cancer may cause depression. Events in life. Depression can be triggered by stressful events in such as the death of someone you love, a divorce, chronic illness, or loss of a job. Medicines, drugs, or alcohol. Taking certain medicines, abusing drugs or alcohol, or having other illnesses can also lead to depression. Depression is not caused by personal weakness, laziness, or lack of willpower.

20. Can giving birth cause depression? In the days following the birth of a baby, it is common for some mothers to have mood swings. They may feel a little depressed, have a hard time concentrating, lose their appetite, or find that they can't sleep well even when the baby is asleep. This is called thebaby blues and goes away within 10 days after delivery. However, some women have worse symptoms or symptoms that last longer. This is called postpartum depression.

21. Treating depression Depression can be treated with medicines, with counseling or with both. A nutritious diet, exercising on a regular basis, and avoiding alcohol, drugs, and too much caffeine can also help. The main risk in not getting treatment is suicide. Treatment can help depression lift in 8 to 12 weeks or less. Medicines that treat depression are called antidepressants. They help increase the number of chemical messengers (serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine) in the brain. Antidepressants work differently for different people. They also have different side effects.