Transcript 06-Understanding Stress and Disease

Understanding Stress and
Disease
How stress influences
physical disease
• Immune system protects body against
stress-related diseases
The immune system
• Protects body against invasion of
foreign material
– Viruses
– Bacteria
– Foreign tissue (e.g. heart transplant)
• Removes damaged cells
Immune system disorders
• Immune deficiency
– AIDS
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
– Caused by the HIV virus
• Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• Destroys the T-cells in the immune system
• HIV destroys immune system - AIDS vulnerable to bacterial, viral, and other
diseases
Transplant rejection
• Immune system tries to fight the foreign
tissue
• Drugs given to reduce effects of
immune system
Psychoneuroimmunology
• Focus of interactions among
– Behavior
– Nervous system
– Endocrine system
– Immune system
Psychoneuroimmunology
• Behavior effects immune system
• Immune system affects health
Factors decreasing the
immune system
• Stress
• Relationship conflict
• Care giving - e.g. Alzheimer’s disease
How stress can act to create
diseases
• Under stress, people
–
–
–
–
Smoke more
Drink more
Use illicit drugs
Get less sleep
• These actions increase risk for various
diseases
• The higher the person’s stress, the more
likely they will become ill.
Common cold
• Exposure to virus + stress = cold
Cardiovascular disease &
heart attack
• Stress can increase the risk, and trigger
heart attack in people with heart
disease
• Depression, anger, & tension can all
increase the risk of heart attack
Stress & psychological
disorders
• Depression
– Increased with negative outlook and ruminating
over problems
• Anxiety disorders
– PTSD
• Intrusive memories
• Recurrent dreams
• Psychological and Physiological distress
– Most people experiencing traumatic events do not
develop PTSD
Stress & psychological
disorders
• No strong relationship between stressful
experiences and psychological
disorders
• While stress may increase the risk for
physical and mental problems, most
people under stress do not develop a
disease, and remain healthy