Horrified Rape Victim - TheBody.com's Bulletin Boards

Humans have always had stress. But today's stress is particularly detrimental to the health, the product of day-after-day agitations of a hectic household and a demanding job.

Or Finicky finances. Troubled relationships. Traffic. Noise. The economy. And these days, terrorism and ongoing war.

Stress happens, but when it escalates unchecked, our bodies and brains suffer mightily.

Stress used to be a brief ``fight-or-flight'' response meant to protect us in times of danger. But in the modern maelstrom of life, chronic stress sets in and can cause serious harm.

Stress can make our joints ache, our hair fall out, our memories falter and our libidos crash. A stressful job can be as harmful to a woman's heart as smoking, according to a recent study by the Harvard University School of Public Health.

``I had an internal medicine practice for 20 years, and I'd say stress was responsible for 80 percent of what came through the door. It plays a huge role in the vast majority of complaints I hear,'' said Dr. Kirk Panneton, vice president of medical affairs for The Eddy network and now a specialist in geriatrics.

Experts from the National Institute of Health concur: Research indicates that 80 percent of all ailments, from a pesky common cold to life-threatening heart disease, are linked to or aggravated by chronic stress.

But you can tame this tiger. The moment we calm down, our bodies begin healing the negative effects caused by stress. A shared laugh, a short walk, several deep breaths, even imagining something relaxing all send out hormones that make us feel better.

Dealing with stress effectively is a health-protecting skill and essential to improving quality of life.

``Stress is a part of life, but it isn't always negative. It can be a motivator, keeping you focused and on task,'' said Robert Wishnoff, a psychiatrist and clinical director of Human Resource Associates in Albany, N.Y. ``The concern is when people lose the ability to alleviate stress, which leads to distress and creates physical symptoms. We must be aware of stress and have good methods and create opportunities to dissipate it.''

The following describes the serious toll that stress can have on the body and ways to recover quickly and make repairs.

Brain: The chain reaction of stress starts in the brain with a blast of hormones from the adrenal glands, including cortisol, which push the body into a hyped-up state - the ancient ``fight or flight'' response. When cortisol levels fly high for extended periods of time, there's no relaxing, no sound sleeping and the prolonged tension causes headaches, irritability, aggression, inability to concentrate and memory loss. Stress can also fray emotions and trigger depression, too. To the rescue are the brain chemicals called endorphins. Brought on by lively physical activity, endorphins drive down cortisol levels, energize us and allow us to feel joyful again.

Ears: Hearing is improved during times of stress - which sounds good but isn't. A recent Cornell University study concluded that even moderate noise elevates heart-damaging stress hormones.

Eyes: Vision is sharpened by hormone-induced dilation of the eyes. But the delicate eye muscles often twitch from fatigue and other sight problems may also occur. Stretching and breathing exercises can decrease body tension and create better blood circulation to oxygen-sensitive eye tissue.

Mouth: Because stress fosters short, shallow breathing, problems ranging from bad breath to difficulty swallowing occur. Estimates ranging from 50 to 96 percent of adults suffer from stress-induced bruxism (clenching jaws and grinding teeth), often causing major dental injuries.

Hair: Considered a barometer of overall health, hair reveals stress quickly. Stress burns nutrients like the vitamin selenium, which can lead to dull hair and premature graying. Hair follicles come under attack, too, from the autoimmune system's reaction to stress, causing hair to fall out in unnaturally large amounts.

Lungs: One of the first reactions triggered by stress is to hyperventilate. Ongoing quick sharp breaths can cause dizziness and diaphragm pain. Many studies have shown that stress aggravates asthma and other respiratory conditions, too. The remedy, of course, is slow, deep breathing that decreases blood pressure and lowers levels of stress hormones.

Heart: There's not much worse than a stressed-out heart. It's pumping fast and hard. Blood pressure rises - even with stressful thoughts - and the body releases stress hormones, like cortisol. This brings about heart palpitations and chest pains. Stress can also prevent blood from clotting properly and promotes the formation of artery-clogging plaque.

Sleep: Nature's best restorative process is sleep, but stress can halt your ability to get a good night's rest. ``You need sleep to help release stress and heal from its effects, but stress keeps you from being able to sleep soundly. It's the ultimate Catch-22,'' Panneton said. ``Disrupted sleep and increased stress are directly related.'' Don't watch TV in bed; try reading a good book instead. Also, exercise during the day will help you relax at night.

Immune system: Ever notice how you get sick after a stressful time? Chronic stress drags the immune system to its knees by lowering your white-blood-cell count, making the body vulnerable to disease and diminishing our ability to fight back and heal. Researchers have shown that certain vaccines are less effective in people under constant stress and they are studying the connection between stress and autoimmune disorders, too.

Skin: Big-time stress causes big-time hormone outbursts, often making acne, rashes and itchy patches worse. Extreme stress can cause some people to break out in hives.

Digestive system: Stress causes the brain to shift blood flow away from the digestive tract, resulting in indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, incontinence and colon spasms. Stress also increases stomach acids aggravating ulcers, and is linked to colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.

Reproductive system: Chronic stress is bad for both sexes. It can inhibit ovulation, lower sperm count, halt menstruation and cause premature birth. It can contribute to the inability to achieve orgasm and may cause painful sex and PMS. Many doctors believe that stress-related infertility is the body's way of keeping us from becoming pregnant and giving birth under dangerous conditions. And it doesn't end with the parents. A University of California study showed that the stress hormones released by a pregnant woman can make her baby more prone to stress and the accompanying risk of heart attack.

Joints, bones and muscles: What about that nagging backache? Or shoulders so stiff that reaching for your 3-year-old is grueling? Again, stress is the likely culprit. Under stress, the brain sends signals that tighten up muscles and constrict blood vessels and cause stiffness. We end up feeling sore and become susceptible to pulls and sprains. Stress is known to make all types of arthritis worse. And women who suffer chronic stress have lower bone density, according to a 1996 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Post Extras: Remind Me!