left arrowGoogle ads:down arrow

This page abstract: What are typical reactions of the body to stress? How does it affect health?

Web4Health logo
Home Search Categories Discussion Get expert advice Unseen Login/out My account
Should not be visible

 Go to:
 Superfolder New Question 
 Current folder Answers 

MORE INFO
Web4Health: Health and psychology

CATEGORIES
Addictions
ADHD
Anorexia
Anxiety, panic
Bulimia
Burnout
Depression
Healthy living
Instability
Life
Mood swings
Obesity
Personality
Phobia
Psychotherapy
Medicines
Relations
Sex
Sleep
Stress
Treatment

All answers
All categories

Tell a friend about Web4Health

This web site
in other languages
Independent medical expert answers

How does stress affect health?

Intelligent natural language question-answering in the area of psychology and psychiatry. Ask a simple question  Local help Info

Go the top of the page Top Forum iconDiscuss this Forum iconGet expert advice Printer Print
Question(s):
Written by: Martin Winkler
First version: 22 Jul 2008. Latest revision: 29 Aug 2008.

What happens in the body when you are submitted to stress, workload, anger? How does stress affect health?

Answer:
Stress can be any unspecific demand to adapt to a critical situation within a very short time. This has been described as "fight-or-flight" reaction (Walter Cannon). Our body reacts in a way that has been developed in primeval times, very well suited to run away, react very fast or hunt a wild animal.

These physiological adjustment reactions have been described by the Canadian stress reseacher Selye. Their purpose is to stimulate the bodily functions for a short time (30 minutes) in case of emergency. So the body reacts to any kind of loads, stress or adaptibility requirements in a very similar way:

  • Acceleration of the heart rate, better perfusion
  • Increase of the blood pressure
  • Increase of the ventilation (hyperventilation)
  • Better perfusion of muscles
  • Change of blood-clotting
  • The skin becomes tense
Any body reactions that are not necessary to respond to the immediate danger are decreased:
  • low gastro-intestinal functions
  • lower immune reaction -> higher risk for infections
  • lower sexual functions
More Information
Imagined body defects Imagined heart attacks Bodily symptoms of stress in schools Everyday stress Blushing and stomach problems Consequences of sexual abuse Depression in women How does anxiety feel? Fibromyalgia - Pain all over and always tired More articles about stress symptoms More articles about body and soul
 
 
Sources, references
Promotional links:
Disclaimer: The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified psychiatrist or psychotherapist. It can not and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. If you find anything wrong, please notify us at .
Go to top of pageTop
Home Search Categories Discussion Get expert advice Unseen Login/out My account
Web4Health in other languages: Finnish German Greek Italian Polish Russian Swedish
soma-stress-selye Separator Copyright 2003-2012 Web4Health
Web4Health was selected as finalist for the 2008 Stockholm Challenge Award

Translate from your desktop
Instantly translate Word documents, Web pages and any written text with SYSTRAN Home Translator 6. The best personal translation software. Download SYSTRAN today.
systransoft.com/translation-products/desktop/free-trial

Translate Web4Health
We seek voluntary translators who are interested in translating Web4Health to new languages. We can provide the servers, but we cannot pay for the work done.
web4health.info/en/tr/

Advertise here
Reach 300 000 visitors reading one million pages for a cost of 900 US $/month.
http://web4health.info/en/ad/