Chronic Stress Research Paper

According to Hans Selye, stress is defined as “the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change” (The American Institute of Stress). Chronic stress is “constant stress experienced over a prolonged period of time” (American Psychological Association). It has been argued that “stress [has] been shown to increase motivation, physical fitness, cognitive sharpness, and creativity” (Stefanie J. Mihalopoulos, Ph.D.); however, stress can cause lots of damage to the body if the person doesn’t know how to control it. Chronic stress negatively affects mental and physical functions in the body by causing short-term issues, by creating long-term problems difficult to correct, and by disturbing all organ systems. When a body tries to deal …show more content…
If a person comes in contact with the virus and is under chronic stress, it will last longer than it usually would if the person was stress-free. The stress hormone, cortisol, represses the immune system so it can’t “turn-off” inflammation responses (Katie Moisse). The symptoms of the common cold are caused by the body’s “inflammatory response to the infection” (Sheldon Cohen). When a person with chronic stress contracts the common cold, it lasts longer because the abundance of cortisol, which doesn’t allow the body to stop the inflammation caused by the virus. The common cold is already bothersome enough, and the longer it lasts the more irritating it becomes. All of the annoying short-term affects stress has on your body can make it difficult to complete life’s daily tasks. Chronic stress does no good in the short …show more content…
One example of this is that stress can affect the gastrointestinal system (American Psychological Association). When someone undergoes stress, the “brain becomes more alert to sensations in your stomach” (American Psychological Association). Stress causes “inflammation of the gastrointestinal system, [which makes the body] more susceptible to infection” (Chris Iliades). The person dealing with stress could “experience the nervous sensation of butterflies” (Lecia Bushak) or become nauseous and even throw up if the stress is severe enough. The stomach pain caused by stress can make someone eat less, leading to even more medical issues because they won’t be getting the nutrition the body needs. Stress can also effect digestion (American Psychological Association). Stress causes the “colon to react in a way that gives you diarrhea or constipation” (Kenneth Koch). Also, cortisol “increases glucose and alters immune system responses, in addition to suppressing the digestive system” (Stefanie J. Mihalopoulos, Ph.D.). Chronic stress affects the gastrointestinal system in a horrible

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