The Impact of Stress on Health

(AC 1) Stress is defined as the state when people are experiencing difficulties in coping with the situations they are in due to the lacking of abilities or knowledge to handle them (Anxiety UK, ND). These situations are often referred as stressors. The way how individuals are reacting to these stressors is referred as stress response.

Stress does not directly causes infections or ill-health to a person. Instead, the products produced in the process of stress interfere with the usual operations of the immune system. Numerous studies have proved that stress has an immunosuppressive effect, which means the functions of the immune system is reduced when an individual is experience stress (Gross et al., 2008). Corticosteroids are initially produced during the alarm stage of the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS), they do not usually cause any harm to the immune system. However, if the presence of corticosteroids is prolonged in the blood due to chronic stress, they can interfere with the production of the antibodies leaving the body vulnerable to harmful virus and bacteria (Gross et al., 2008). As described in the G.A.S model by Selye, individuals might experience drastic changes in their body such as high blood pressures and heart rates in order to cope during the stressful situations. If these changes are prolonged, this could lead to permanent damage to the body (Bailey et al, 2008).

(AC 2)There are many causes of stress in the modern society due to the higher expectations and demands from different aspects of life. Work-related stress is one common cause of stress. People feel stressed out at their workplace for various reasons. For example, long working hours is one type of stressor because workers are overworked, which leads to...

... middle of paper ...

...e] Available from:< http://www.carersuk.org/media/k2/attachments/Facts_about_carers_Dec_2012.pdf> [Accessed on (19 February 2014)]

Fletcher, V., (2008). How just 20 minutes of housework a week will boost the brain.[online] Available from:< http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/40806/How-just-20-minutes-of-housework-a-week-will-boost-the-Brain>[Accessed on (19 February 2014)]

Gross et al.,(2008). AQA (A) Psychology for AS. London. Hodder Education

Rice et al., (2008). Psychology in focus: AS level. Lancaster. Causeway Press Limited

Stress Management Society (ND). Exercise. [online] Available from: [Accessed on (19 February 2014)]

UC Davis (2013). Mindfulness from meditation associated with lower stress hormone. [online] Available from:< http://www.news.ucdavis.edu/search/news_detail.lasso?id=10538>[Accessed on (19 February 2014)]