THE LINK BETWEEN STRESS AND HEALTH

 

THE LINK BETWEEN STRESS AND HEALTH

 

Stress can be defined as the way you feel when you’re under too much pressure.
 All sorts of situations can cause stress. The most common involve work, money matters and relationships with partners, children, family members or work partners. Stress may be caused either by major upheavals and life events such as divorce, unemployment, moving house and bereavement, or by a series of minor irritations such as feeling undervalued at work or dealing with difficult children. 

 

How stress affects your health

When you are stressed, your body produces more of the so-called ‘fight or flight’ chemicals, called adrenaline and nor-adrenaline which prepare your body for an emergency. Adrenaline and nor-adrenaline raises your blood pressure, increases the rate at which your heart beats and perspiration. All of these changes make it easier for you to fight or run away, which was extremely useful to the human race in past times.

Unfortunately these changes are less helpful if you are stuck in a busy office or on an overcrowded train. You cannot fight or run away, and so cannot use the chemicals your own body has produced to protect you. 

Research suggests that a moderate amount of pressure can be positive, making us more alert, helping to keep us motivated, and making us perform better. 

However, too much pressure, or prolonged pressure, can lead to stress. Stress and health are closely linked. Over time these chemicals and the changes they produce can damage your physical and mental health. 

For example, you may start to experience headaches, and indigestion. You may breathe more quickly, perspire more, have palpitations or experience  symptoms such as headaches, muscle spasms, constant tiredness, dizziness, sleeping problems, nail biting and lack of appetite. Over longer term you may be putting yourself at risk from high blood pressure, heart attacks, strokes, impotence and may also affect your immune and nervous system. Stress is known to worsen many immune related medical conditions, such as diabetes. Cortisol produced during stress situations may suppress the body’s immune response, increasing susceptibility to infectious diseases. 

 

Stress leads to destructive behaviors

Studies also show that individuals with high stress levels tend to increase their bad habits, which can be harmful to periodontal health. They are less attentive to their oral hygiene and may engage in destructive behaviors such as smoking, alcohol or drugs abuse and fall into eating disorders (unhealthy dietary habits), all which can have a negative effects on oral health.  

 

 

How does stress affect your oral health?

Constant stress, anxiety and depressions can affect oral health in several ways. 

 

Bruxism

This refers to forceful grinding or clenching of the teeth, often unconsciously, during the day or at night during sleep.  The exact cause of bruxism is uncertain but stress is considered one of the factors contributing to this habit. The condition has been linked to work stress and personality type. People that, are shy, apprehensive and given to worry, tended towards bruxism. Many people who brux their teeth may not be aware that they are doing so. However, those who sleep with them may be able to hear their bruxing. 

 

Clenching or grinding can lead to problems like: cracked teeth,  sensitivity of teeth,  flattened or chipped appearance of the teeth, headaches,  tiredness of the jaws on waking, and jaw or facial pain. When combined with erosion (the effects of acids on teeth from diet or other sources), bruxism can have devastating effects on teeth and may require extensive corrective treatment.

Treatment for bruxism includes the use of mouth guards/splints and relaxation techniques such as meditation. For more information on bruxism you can visit the following website: (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001413.htm )

 

Dry mouth

Dryness of the mouth can be caused by stress. More often, it may be caused by medications taken to relieve stress, anxiety or depression. Reduced saliva in the mouth  can have many consequences such as: 

 Reduced taste and reduced appetite

 Increased tooth decay because of lack of protection offered by saliva

 Difficulty in wearing dentures because of lack of lubrication offered by saliva

 Increased plaque accumulation and consequent increased gum disease

 

Reduced resistance, poor hygiene and gum infections

People under stress are less likely to eat well, sleep well or be interested in daily hygiene practices. Hence their general resistance to infections fall. The mouth is a place where infection can easily occur. Even periods of exam stress have been found to be associated with increased infections of the mouth, for example around impacted or emerging wisdom teeth.

Stress is also associated with an increased susceptibility to gum infections. While more research is needed to explain the specific role stress plays in gum disease, it is speculated that the hormone cortisol may play a role. When experiencing stress, the body releases increased amounts of cortisol, which can be harmful to the gums and surrounding bone tissue. This damage can cause bone loss which eventually leads to tooth loss.

Aphthous ulcers(canker sores),  burning mouth syndrome, are worsened during times of emotional stress.