Please read about The Effects of Stress upon the Body (below this index) for important information before reviewing the effects for a specific condition.
Medical Conditions A - C
AIDS/HIVAlzheimer's
Angina
Arthritis (Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid)
Asthma
Atherosclerosis (hardening or plaquing of the arteries)
Cancer
Carpal Tunnel
Colitis
Congestive Heart Failure
Crohn's Disease
Medical Conditions D - G
DiabetesDisk Disorders (herniations, prolapse, sciatica)
Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis
Eczema
Emphysema
Fibromyalgia
Gastrointestinal Disorders (Colitis, Crohn's, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Leaky Gut (Intestinal Dysbiosis))
Golfer's Elbow
Medical Conditions H
HeadachesHeart and Circulatory Conditions (Angina, Atherosclerosis, Bypass Surgery, Heart Attack (Myocardial Infarction), Heart Failure, Hypertension (High Blood Pressure), Phlebitis, Stroke (CVA), Varicose Veins)
Heart Attack
Herniated Disk
Herpes
Hepatitis
Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
Medical Conditions I - R
Irritable Bowel SyndromeLeaky Gut (Intestinal Dysbiosis)
Lyme Disease
Migraines
multiple Sclerosis
Parkinson's
Phlebitis
Prolapsed Disk
Psoriasis
Raynaud's
Medical Conditions S - Z
Scar Tissue and Wound HealingSciatica
Skin Disorders (Acne, Athlete's Foot/Jock Itch/Fungal Infection, Dermatitis, Eczema, Psoriasis, Warts)
Spinal and Nerve Injuries
Sprain
Strain
Stroke (CVA)
Tendonitis (Golfer's Elbow and Tennis Elbow)
Tennis Elbow
Ulcers
Varicose Veins
The Effects of Stress upon the Body
Stress has an extremely debilitating effect on the body and has been found by the medical community to cause over 90% of all illnesses (physical and mental). The only problem for us is how to lower the amount of stress in our lives. Since 99% of all bosses and family members polled reported that they do NOT favor a decrease in work or parenting hours, we have to find another way.Play Time = Work Time
No, this isn't suggesting that work is fun (sometimes it is . . . what else are company parties for?). What this formula means is that we need to make our work time equal our play time. We need play time to serve as a release valve for all the stress we build up while our bodies are "working". First off, though, let's define work and play. Work counts as anything we do which puts us under pressure, both physically and mentally--your job, parenthood, commuting, that quick game of basketball with your friends, moving your friend out of her apartment on the first floor to the new place on the sixth floor, tearing up those bushes you never really liked, and so on. Play counts as those gentle activities which allow our bodies time to heal and recover from our work. These are activities which we can relax while doing: meditation, tai chi, yoga, massage, art, photography, singing, reading, writing, crafts, starting next spring's plants from seeds, laughing, knitting, sewing, or whatever. However, sleep does not count as play. Sleep is sleep and the ultimate play to give your body a break from EVERYTHING you do.Think about your typical week: 45 hours in the office (for those of you who are still so lucky), 10 hours of commuting (for those of you who aren't so lucky), 5 hours getting ready for work, 5 hours getting dinner ready, 10 hours getting the kids through their homework and into bed, 2 hours cleaning the house, and 2 hours of working in the yard. All this for a grand total of 79 hours. Now, in a week, we have 168 hours, less an ideal 56 hours of sleep. Subtract 79 from 112 and you have 33 hours of play, just a little over a full day. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO OURSELVES??
Now what exactly are these ominous threats from all this stress? I bet you have felt these sometime in the past week. To put them simply:
- decreased immune response and healing
- increased blood pressure
- increased gastrointestinal distress (diarrhea, constipation, ulcers, etc.)
And for those of you looking for more scientific answers:
Stress activates the central nervous system, triggering the hypothalamus to create responses in the sympathetic nervous system ("fight or flight" response which puts the body in action to deal with the stress) and the adrenal cortex (which produces adrenaline to give your body extra energy to deal with the stress).
Just these two responses have the following effects on the body:
- skin pales (due to restricted blood flow)
- kidneys decrease functioning (urine production decreases, meaning more toxins are stored in the body)
- increased nausea (the stomach shuts down digestion and wants to empty itself)
- decreased mucous secretions in the stomach (mucous protects the stomach walls against the risk of ulcers)
- increased muscle tension (to prepare the body for action)
- increased blood sugar
- increased respiration
- increased heart rate (and increased strain on the circulatory system)
- decreased white blood cell production (white blood cells provide the body with natural immunity)
- atrophy of the lymphatic tissues (also play a role in immunity)
- increased allergic response/sensitivity
The most common complications of stress are:
- tension headaches
- fatigue
- insomnia
- infection
- diabetes
- hypertension (high blood pressure)
- ulcers and everyone's favorite:
- heart failure
Get Ready. Get Set. PLAY!!