Scleroderma Symptoms Causes

Causes of Scleroderma: Stress

Overview of Stress and Disease

Stress dramatically slows wound healing.

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

Stress disorders tied to increased heart disease risk. People who suffer from conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, a Swedish study suggests. Reuters Health, 04/19/2019.

The role of stress in the mosaic of autoimmunity. An overlooked association. Psychological therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy aimed to reduce stress levels was shown to be effective in influencing better outcomes in many autoimmune diseases. PubMed, Autoimmun Rev, 08/14/2018.

A Comprehensive Overview on Stress Neurobiology: Basic Concepts and Clinical Implications. The identification of neuronal circuits of stress is critical, not only for understanding the physiological stress responses, but also to understand their implications on mental health. PubMed, Front Behav Neurosci, 2018 Jul 3;12:127. (Also see Human Immune System)

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.

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). (Also see Rheumatoid Arthritis and Psoriasis)

Stress and Fertility

Fertility treatment: Getting stressed about stress The biological connection is the effect of stress on the hypothalamo-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis interfering with ovulation. Wiley Online, Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 2018 Mar;97(3):233-234.

Stress and Inflammation

Macrophages depletion impairs skeletal muscle regeneration by regulating inflammation and oxidative stress levels. These results suggest that macrophages depletion can aggravate fibrosis and impair muscle regeneration, and inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and oxidative stress factors may be involved in this process. PubMed, Sheng Li Xue Bao, 2018 Feb 25;70(1):23-32.

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.

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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