Consequences on health, remedies and harms: anthology of received ideas on stress.

Stress is a completely normal reaction, a survival mechanism that pushes our body to mobilize in the face of danger. The body responds by secreting specific hormones, such as adrenaline or cortisol, which will prompt the body to take action. What poses a problem is what is called chronic stress, which causes its share of symptoms in the more or less long term: migraines, eczema, fatigue, digestive disorders, palpitations, hyperventilation …

While stress can cause psychological disorders and / or addictive behavior, it can also be the cause of physiological disorders, such as musculoskeletal disorders, the first occupational disease, but also cardiovascular disorders or arterial hypertension. .

Many people find that their productivity increases as the deadline for a task or project approaches. But is it really stress that motivates? In reality, it’s the act of being stimulated and setting goals that motivates us, not the stress.

In our society, stress is often associated with better productivity. A person stressed by their work is often seen as involved, while a phlegmatic person gives the opposite impression. Yet Andrew Bernstein, the author of the book The Myth of Stress, interviewed by the magazine Psychology Today explains that there is no positive relationship between stress and success: “If you are successful and you are stressed, you succeed in spite of your stress, not because of it”.

In fact, the majority of ulcers are not caused by stress, but by a bacteria found in the stomach, Helicobacter pylori, which causes inflammation in the abdominal area and intestines.

Cocoa is rich in flavonoids and magnesium, compounds known for their anti-stress effects. It also contains tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin, also called the “happiness hormone”… Consuming cocoa or dark chocolate could therefore have a de-stressing and antidepressant effect.

By triggering the secretion of endorphins and serotonin, sport acts as a real stress reliever. But be careful not to practice it too late at night, because it can induce a state of hyperactivity and sleep disorders.

Drinking one or more drinks to relax after a stressful day is a bad idea. Indeed, according to a study published in 2008 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, alcohol actually promotes the production of the stress hormone cortisol.

Throat tightening, lump in the stomach, racing heart, fatigue… Although we can recognize a panel of possible elements, each organism reacts to stress in a very particular way.

It has never been proven that a psychological shock from a stressful life event can cause cancer. While many scientific studies have explored this hypothesis, they have not made it possible to conclude that stress has a direct role in the appearance of cancer.