Scleroderma Symptoms Causes

Causes of Scleroderma: Stress

Overview of Stress and Disease

Stress can cause hormonal and cellular changes in our bodies which can lead to a variety of medical problems.

Chronic stress is thought to be a trigger for the development or exacerbation of autoimmune diseases.

On the other hand, there might also be a positive role for stress in reducing inflammation in some circumstances. (Also see What is Scleroderma? and Emotional Adjustment and Scleroderma)

Stress and Disease

Depression and Stress Could Be 'Perfect Storm' for Heart Disease Patients. The combination of depression and stress may increase the chance of a patient dying of heart disease. Time Healthland, 03/10/2015. (Also see Depression)

Exploring the Effects of Pain and Stress on Wound Healing. Pain and associated stress may deleteriously affect wound healing through a multitude of mechanisms. Lippincott Nursing Center.

The Immune System and Stress. Dental students volunteered to receive small cuts on the roofs of their mouths and their wounds took 40 percent longer to heal when they were under the stress of exams. HealthDay, 03/11/2015.

Stressed? You're more likely to suffer heart disease from it if you're a woman. Women are at greater risk from heart disease caused by stress than men, according to new research. Mail Online, 10/13/2014.

Immune responses to stress in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis. Patients with RA have a different immune response to stress than patients with psoriasis or healthy controls. More needs to be learned about the complex interaction between stress, immune parameters and chronic inflammation. PubMed, Rheumatology (Oxford), 2014 May 20. (Also see Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis)

Stress and Fertility

Stress May Affect Fertility. This study indicates that if a woman was having difficulty becoming pregnant, it would be harmless, and might be helpful, to consider stress-reduction techniques. New York Times, 03/24/2014. (Also see Pregnancy and Systemic Scleroderma)

Stress and Inflammation

Stressing out your body could help control chronic inflammation. If you place the human body under enough stress, the immune system will stand down and that, in turn, may calm the systemic inflammation and relieve the pain and disability that comes with a chronically overactive immune response. Crohn's Forum, 05/06/2014. (Also see Autoimmunity)

Reducing Stress

Coping Stategies. A healthy emotional adjustment is an important part of having a good quality of life (QOL). It is even more important when you have a chronic illness such as scleroderma. Maintaining healthy routines such as exercise and diet, taking your medications properly, staying close to family and friends, and knowing how you feel emotionally and physically all contribute to your overall state of being. ISN.

Work at home? Watch out! You're more likely to suffer insomnia, stress and depression. Working from home may be saving you commuting time, but it could also be causing insomnia, stress and depression, a new report says. Mail Online, 02/15/2017. (Also see Sleep Disorders and Depression)

Why Some People Handle Stress Better Than Others. The researchers asked people about some of the ways they cope with stress, including alcohol intake, eating behaviors, and how often they get into arguments. Time Healthland, 07/20/2016.

Forgiving Other People Is Good for Your Health. Being forgiving to yourself and others can protect against stress and the toll it takes on mental health, according to a new study. Time Healthland, 06/16/2016.

It’s NOT all in your head, daily life IS hard but anxiety CAN be good for you. Stress manifests itself differently in different people — but it's not all equal. Mail Online, 11/18/2015.

Social support: Tap this tool to reduce stress. Having close friends and family on whom you can count has far-reaching benefits for your health. Here's how to build and maintain these essential relationships. Mayo Clinic.

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