Stress Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Generalized anxiety disorder Stress and anxiety Definition Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or anxious. What is stressful to one person is not necessarily stressful to another. Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear. The source of this uneasiness is not always known or recognized, which can add to the distress you feel. Alternative Names Anxiety; Feeling uptight; Stress; Tension; Jitters; Apprehension Considerations Stress is a normal part of life. In small quantities, stress is good -- it can motivate you and help you be more productive. However, too much stress, or a strong response to stress, is harmful. It can set you up for general poor health as well as specific physical or psychological illnesses like infection, heart disease, or depression. Persistent and unrelenting stress often leads to anxiety and unhealthy behaviors like overeating and abuse of alcohol or drugs. Emotional states like grief or depression and health conditions like an overactive thyroid, low blood sugar, or heart attack can also cause stress. Anxiety is often accompanied by physical symptoms, including: Twitching or trembling Muscle tension, headaches Sweating Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing Abdominal pain (may be the only symptom of stress, especially in a child) Sometimes other symptoms accompany anxiety: Dizziness Rapid or irregular heart rate Rapid breathing Diarrhea or frequent need to urinate Fatigue Irritability, including loss of your temper Sleeping difficulties and nightmares Decreased concentration Sexual problems Anxiety disorders are a group of psychiatric conditions that involve excessive anxiety. They include generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social phobia. Common Causes Certain drugs, both recreational and medicinal, can lead to symptoms of anxiety due to either side effects or withdrawal from the drug. Such drugs include: ADHD medications Alcohol Amphetamines Bronchodilators for asthma Caffeine Cocaine Cold remedies Decongestants Diet pills Nicotine Thyroid medications Tricyclic antidepressants A poor diet -- for example, low levels of vitamin B12 -- can also contribute to stress or anxiety. Performance anxiety is related to specific situations, like taking a test or making a presentation in public. Continue reading this article

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Stress vs. anxiety (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
The following are common questions about stress and anxiety. Question: What is the difference between feeling stressed and having an anxiety disorder? Answer: Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, nervous, or even anxious. What is stressful to one person is not necessarily stressful to another. Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear. You may not know the source of this uneasiness, which can add to the distress you feel. Anxiety disorders are a group of psychiatric conditions that involve excessive anxiety. They include generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social phobia. People with these disorders have symptoms every day or nearly every day that cause them to have difficulty with daily activities and relationships. Question: Does anger increase your risk of heart problems? Answer: Adrenaline (sometimes called the "fight or flight" hormone) increases when you are angry or stressed. High levels of adrenaline and similar stress hormones raise your blood pressure and cholesterol, both of which are risk factors for heart disease. Stress hormones can even damage your heart directly and make you more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviors like smoking or overeating. See also: Heart attack; Stress. Question: What can you do to help relieve stress? Answer: Just like causes of stress differ from person to person, what relieves stress is not the same for everyone. In general, however, making certain lifestyle changes as well as finding healthy, enjoyable ways to cope with stress helps most people. For example: Eat a well-balanced, healthy diet. Don't overeat; Get enough sleep; Exercise regularly; Limit caffeine and alcohol; Don't use nicotine, cocaine, or other recreational drugs; Learn and practice relaxation techniques like guided imagery, progressive muscle relaxation, yoga, tai chi, or meditation. Try biofeedback with a certified professional to get you started; Take breaks from work. Make sure to balance fun activities with your responsibilities. Schedule some leisure time every day. Spend time with people you enjoy, including quality time with your family; Try learning to make things with your hands (such as needlepoint, woodwork, or knitting), playing an instrument, or listening to soothing music. Reviewer: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/27/2007
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Post-traumatic stress disorder (1 Video, 1 Image) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you've seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. Reviewer: Paul Ballas, DO, Department of Psychiatry, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 01/20/2009
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Stress management (2 Videos, 3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. See also: Stress in childhood Reviewer: Christos Ballas, M.D., Attending Psychiatrist, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/06/2008
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Exercise and stress reduction (4 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Question: Can exercise help reduce a person's stress level? Answer: Yes. Research has found that there are mental health benefits from exercise, including reduced stress and increased confidence for those who exercise regularly - even 20 minutes a day. Exercise helps you improve your overall health. It also reduces your risk of developing chronic (life-long) conditions such as heart disease, and may help prevent dementia and some forms of cancer. Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Family Physician, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/22/2009
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Stress in childhood (1 Video) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Childhood stress can be caused by any situation that requires a person to adapt or change. The situation often produces anxiety. Stress may be caused by positive changes, such as starting a new activity, but it is most commonly linked with negative changes such as illness or death in the family. Reviewer: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 05/08/2008
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Blood pressure (8 Videos, 3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force applied to the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The pressure is determined by the force and amount of blood pumped, and the size and flexibility of the arteries. Blood pressure is continually changing depending on activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, physical state, and medication use. Reviewer: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 05/02/2009
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Biofeedback (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Biofeedback is a technique that measures bodily functions in order to help control them. Reviewer: Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/07/2007
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