• Genes
• Extreme changes in the physical environment
• Overeating
• Caffeine
• Alcohol
• Timing of snacks and drinks
• Low-carb, high-fat diet
• Low-carb, high-protein diet
• High ratio of omega-6s to omega-3s
• Behavioral and physiological patterns of reactivity
• Extreme changes in life circumstances
• Mental and emotional frustrations
• Trauma
• Exposure to chemicals
• Other environmental toxic exposures

What are some of the physical effects of stress in people?

• Reduces healthy functioning of the nervous system, immune system, hormones, and other components of the body
• Increases inflammation and inflammatory cytokines
• Increases depression and anxiety
• Damages the function and shrinks the size of the hippocampus causing memory loss and mood disorders
• Increases abdominal fat and insulin resistance
• Interferes with thyroid function
• Activates pathways that lead to death of the mitochondria and loss of energy production
• Increases the release of fats in the bloodstream
• Raises triglycerides, lowers good cholesterol, and raises bad cholesterol
• Causes arteries to constrict, high blood pressure, and blood clotting

What is the relationship between stress and cancer?

In Life Over Cancer, Keith Block, MD explains the strong relationship between biochemistry, the stress response in the body, and cancer.

“The body responds to stress—chemical, physical, nutritional, or psychological—by secreting stress hormones… Chronically elevated stress hormones produce a terrain that is worrisomely hospitable to cancer cells. With your stress machinery stuck on high, continued exposure to stress hormones can severely damage your body and disturb your vital reserves of nutrients, enzymes, hormones, antibodies, and immune cells, all of which are essential to your recovery. For instance, chronically elevated levels of the stress hormone adrenaline increase levels of blood glucose and clotting factors, which…are conducive to the growth and spread of cancer. And a blood clot colliding with the lungs or brain can be fatal. Chronically high levels of another stress hormone, cortisol, make it difficult for insulin to ferry blood glucose into your tissues; this is tantamount to the insulin resistance, which… can stimulate cancer growth. Cortisol also suppresses some immune system activity and can increase biochemicals that support the growth and spread of tumors. In general, high levels of cortisol and adrenaline contribute to faster disease progression, quicker relapse, poorer natural killer cell function, and decreased survival.”

Many studies have linked psychological distress such as ongoing depression and anxiety related symptoms with a higher risk of cancer incidence and poorer cancer survival. Self-care to reduce stress supports your optimal health and healing.

Does eliminating or reducing the causes of stress always remove physical imbalances that developed due to stress?

Sometimes stress chemistry and biorhythms cannot be completely corrected through improvements in diet, exercise, sleep, mind-body balance, spiritual engagement, and the environment. Strategies to reduce and/or eliminate stress may or may not remove the biochemical residue that can remain in the body. Other interventions may be needed and can be identified through medical testing on biorhythms and stress hormone imbalances. For more information, see the Stress Chemistry chapter in Life Over Cancer by Keith Block, MD.

What is the relationship between stress and the nervous system?

The autonomic nervous system helps process the experience of stress.

The autonomic nervous system regulates 90 percent of the body’s functions and contains two branches.

Sympathetic Nervous System

• Prepares the body to react to situations of stress or emergency
• Decreases the tone and contractility of smooth muscle
• Increases heart rate

Parasympathic Nervous System

• Slows down the heart rate
• Supports digestion and breathing
• Relaxes adrenal over stimulation
• Designs repair, maintenance, and restoration

Healthy strategies help to reduce stress and balance the nervous system.

What else is important to understand about stress?

Different stimuli can be stressful to different people. Something that is stressful to one person may not be stressful to someone else, and vice versa.

Part of the experience of stress resides in the interpretation. Some people have defined stress as the sense of having little or no control.

Although some life variables cannot be controlled, they can be influenced. This brings a sense of empowerment. Studies suggest that diminishing the perception of stress results in dramatic stress reduction and health improvements.

What are some first personal steps toward stress reduction?

Start by answering the following questions for yourself.

• What brings you calm?
• What activities bring you joy?
• What nurtures you?
• What do you really, really, really want to do?

Spend more time doing what brings you calm, joy, and nurturing. Engage in activities that are compatible with your true nature.

What depletes your energy? If something drains you, stay away from it.

Stress can also be a response to any demand for change.

Stress may have created by how people respond to life.

Explore integrative cancer care for the whole person with strategies to reduce stress for your health, healing, and happiness.