Chapter 3 Notes: Stress and Illness/Disease

Hot Reactors

• Definition: Individuals who react to stress with an all-out physiological response.

• Associated with:

  • Chronic anger or anxiety

  • High blood pressure

  • Increased susceptibility to heart attacks

Psychosomatic Disease

• Definition: Diseases involving both mind and body; psychophysiological in nature.

• Nature: Can be diagnosed and manifested physically.

• Kinds:

  • Psychogenic: Physical disease caused by emotional stress; no microbial invasion involved.

  • Somatogenic: Disease arises when the mind increases the body’s susceptibility to disease-causing microbes or to degenerative processes.

Immunological System: Components

• 1) White blood cells (WBCs):

  • Phagocytes

  • Macrophages: surround and engulf invading substances; summon helper T cells

• 2) Lymphocytes:

  • T cells: identify invaders and destroy them

  • Helper T cells: stimulate killer T cells and B cells

  • Killer T cells: puncture membranes of invaded cells; kill cells and invaders

  • B cells: produce antibodies that neutralize invaders or tag them for attack

  • Suppressor T cells: halt immune response when the invasion is contained

  • Memory T and B cells: persist to respond quickly to future attacks

Stress and the Immunological System 1

• Stress can decrease the white blood cell count, increasing disease risk.

• Personality-linked patterns observed:

  • Disease-prone: depressed, angry/hostile, anxious

  • Cancer-prone: unassertive, overly patient, conflict-avoidant

  • Coronary heart disease (CHD)-prone: angry, hostile, aggressive

Stress and the Immunological System 2

• Specific immunological effects of stress:

  • Negative moods decrease
    $ext{sIgA}$
    levels, increasing disease susceptibility

  • Positive moods increase $ext{sIgA}$ levels but may enhance immunosuppressive effects

• Expert consensus: no illness is completely free from the influence of stress

Stress and Serum Cholesterol

• Cholesterol: tends to accumulate on vessel walls, impeding blood flow

• Stressful events can raise serum cholesterol levels

• Stress management can:

  • Increase good cholesterol

  • Decrease bad cholesterol

Hypertension

• Definition: Excessive, damaging pressure of blood against arterial walls

• Related conditions:

  • Cerebral hemorrhage: rupture of a brain blood vessel

  • Myocardial infarction (MI): artery rupture leading to heart tissue death

• Blood pressure readings:

  • Normal: $120/80\ \mathrm{mmHg}$

  • High: $140/90\ \mathrm{mmHg}$

• Demographics: lifestyle factors may relate more to hypertension than age; higher prevalence in men; lowest in white women

Causes of Hypertension

• Risk factors include:

  • Excessive sodium intake

  • Kidney disease

  • Cushing’s syndrome

  • Obesity and lack of exercise

  • Use of oral contraceptives

  • Cigarette smoking

  • Stress

Stroke

• Definition: Lack of oxygen to the brain due to blockage or rupture of a vessel; historically called apoplexy

• Signs and symptoms: impaired motor function and speech, paralysis, blurred vision, headache

• Associations: linked to high blood pressure, diet, and stress

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) 1

• Major risk factors:

  • High serum cholesterol

  • Hypertension

  • Cigarette smoking

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) 2: Physiological mechanisms linking stress and CHD

• Mechanisms include:

  • Type A behavior pattern and hostility

  • Cholesterol, blood pressure, blood volume, and accelerated heart rate

  • Production of plasma homocysteine ($ext{Homocysteine}$)

  • Cardiovascular reactivity

  • Morning blood pressure surge

  • Increased platelet activation

  • Increased catecholamine levels

  • Prolonged neuroendocrine responses

  • Variability in heart rhythm

Ulcers

• Definition: Fissures or ulcers in stomach, duodenum, or other GI tract segments

• Causes and processes:

  • Stress increases gastric/intestinal acid production

  • Norepinephrine causes constriction of gastric capillaries, reducing mucosal protection

  • Helicobacter pylori can inflame GI lining and stimulate acid production

  • Antibiotics (not just antihistamines) are prescribed for ulcers

  • NSAIDs (e.g., aspirin) contribute to ulcer formation

Migraine Headaches

• Origin: Result from constriction and later dilation of carotid arteries on one side of the head

• Prodrome (preattack): Constriction phase; followed by dilation triggering pain

• Typical duration: ~6 hours; usually affects one side

• Triggers: Emotional stress and tension

• Management: Relaxation techniques including biofeedback, meditation, autogenic training

Tension Headaches

• Cause: Muscle tension associated with stress

• Affected regions: Forehead, jaw, and neck

• Treatments:

  • Medication

  • Heat on tense muscles

  • Massage

Cancer 1

• Definition: Uncontrolled multiplication of cells leading to tumors and organ damage

• Causes: Carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) and viral infections

• Immune relation: T-lymphocytes help destroy mutant cells; stress can reduce T-lymphocyte activity

Cancer 2

• Chronic stress effect: Sustained stress can lead to a chronic inability of the immune system to prevent mutant cell proliferation

• Experimental treatments to counteract stress effects include:

  • Maintaining a positive attitude

  • Visualization therapy

Characteristics of a Cancer-Prone Person

• Common patterns observed:

  • Holds resentment and is unforgiving

  • Tends toward self-pity

  • Struggles with meaningful interpersonal relationships

  • Has a poor self-image

Allergies, Asthma, and Hay Fever

• Definitions:

  • Antigen: foreign substance irritating to the body

  • Antibodies: produced to fight antigens; stimulate chemical release

  • Histamine: causes swelling, increased mucus, bronchial constriction

• Stress-related effects on immune response:

  • Reduction in T-lymphocytes

  • Increased cortisol secretion

  • Decreased ability to withstand antigens

Figure 3.1: Stress and the Immune Response (text summary)

• When not stressed: immunological system defends effectively; T-lymphocytes guard against disease (cancer, arthritis, allergies)

• When stressed: immune response is weakened; disease development begins; pathogens may breach defenses

• Visualization described: cancer trying to enter, less T-lymphocytes under stress, risk of invasion increases

Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Description: Inflammation and swelling in various joints; may be autoimmune

• Autoimmune aspect: body’s immune system attacks itself

• Genetics: some people genetically susceptible

• Stress role: can precipitate arthritic attacks

Backaches

• Impact: Affects physical and cognitive functioning

• Causes: muscular weakness or bracing; contractions associated with competitiveness, anger, and apprehension

• Risk factors: perceived work stress, mental distress, and depression

Temporomandibular (TMJ) Syndrome

• Symptoms 1: Interference with smooth jaw function; facial pain; clicking/popping jaw sounds; migraines; earaches; tinnitus; dizziness; tooth sensitivity

• Causes 2: Bruxism (teeth clenching or grinding) due to stress

• Treatments: Acrylic mouthpiece; stress reduction techniques such as biofeedback

Obesity

• Definition: BMI of 30 or higher

• Mechanisms: Neuropeptide Y and its receptors influence fat cell growth; stress can trigger release of this neuropeptide

• Animal model: In mice, stress plus high-fat/sugar diet leads to a metabolic syndrome-like condition

• Human relevance: Metabolic syndrome linked to abdominal obesity and diabetes

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

• Definition: Condition developing after experiencing or witnessing an extreme distressing event

PTSD Symptoms: Categories

• Reliving the event: flashbacks

• Avoidance: emotional numbness, detachment, lack of interest, avoidance of people/places

• Arousal: concentration difficulties, easy startling, hypervigilance, irritability, sleep problems

PTSD Treatment

• Talk therapy: helps reframe fear as less threatening

• Medication: antidepressants, anti-anxiety meds, sleep aids

• Exposure therapy: gradually exposes patient to the triggering event

• Advanced approach: Virtual reality exposure therapy

Stress and Other Conditions

• Increased risk of miscarriage

• Sports injuries

• Stress–injury model: in sports, stress response is shaped by history of stressors, personality traits, and coping resources

• Influencing factors: negative life events and lack of social support

Text Alt. for Figure 3.1 (accessibility notes)

• Describes the same stress-immune dynamics; emphasizes reduced T-lymphocytes under stress as a mechanism for disease progression

Connections, Foundations, and Real-World Relevance

• Mind–body link: psychosomatic diseases demonstrate how psychological states influence physical health

• Immunology core: T cells, B cells, and sIgA are central to how stress modulates infection and disease risk

• Type A/hostility pattern: associated with CHD risk; supports the notion that personality and stress response contribute to physiological outcomes

• Lifestyle factors: sodium intake, exercise, smoking, diet, and social support strongly interact with stress to shape disease risk

• Practical implications: stress management, therapy for PTSD, biofeedback, relaxation training, and positive affect interventions can mitigate risk factors and improve outcomes

• Ethical/practical considerations: understanding stress’s role emphasizes the need for supportive environments, access to mental health care, and public health strategies to reduce chronic stress exposure

Key Formulas and Numeric References

• Normal blood pressure: $120/80\ \mathrm{mmHg}$

• Hypertension threshold: $140/90\ \mathrm{mmHg}$

• Sodium, obesity, and exercise as contributors to hypertension (qualitative factors listed)

• sIgA: shorthand for secretory Immunoglobulin A (conceptual, used in mood-immunity relationships)

End of Notes