Getting a Grip on Stress

Despite what you may think, stress isn’t all bad. It’s what gets you through that big presentation, holiday dinner or final exam—and gives a 120-pound mother the strength to lift a car off a child.

Too much stress, day in and day out, is the problem. Left unchecked, stress can (and too often does) lead to heart attack, stroke, depression or anxiety, and a myriad of other problems.

The stress response is a basic survival mechanism that goes back to man’s earliest days, says internist James Freeman, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “In times of danger, the body releases cortisol, which raises your blood pressure, pulse and blood sugar, releases adrenaline and poises the body in a state of readiness. It physically prepared the caveman to fight the bear or run away.”

Today’s “bear” is more likely to be a work or family crisis, but the body’s response to a perceived threat is still the same. Too much stress can cause moodiness, headaches, upset stomach, irritable bowel and sleeplessness, Freeman says. If stress is persistent and not managed properly, it can lead to mental illness, substance abuse, weight problems and fatigue, and can make other diseases worse. For example, stress has a negative impact on heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure and cholesterol.

How we handle stress is just as important as its physical effect, says cardiologist Deborah Sundlof, D.O., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network. “Stress can be a positive influence in your life when you deal with it in an appropriate and healthy way,” she says. “Too many people cope by picking up a cigarette, drinking alcohol or eating poorly. Unfortunately, it usually takes a life-threatening event for them to change their ways.”

How do you know when stress is working against you? “It becomes a problem when it interferes with your ability to function on the job, at home, at school or with others,” says psychiatrist Mary Cohen, M.D., of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

“Stress can damage your concentration and cause you to withdraw from relationships.” Be aware of physical and emotional symptoms like these, she says, in yourself and the people around you. If a spouse points out that you’re not yourself or your work performance is slipping, it may be time to get help.

“If you’re having a bad day, that’s stress you can deal with. If you’re having a bad month, it’s more serious,” Cohen says. She urges calling the doctor when symptoms persist for two weeks or more. “Don’t wait for something drastic to happen. Men especially tend to delay getting help until they have an ulcer or heart attack. Everyone experiences stress, and we need it in our daily lives. But if you don’t manage it, it will manage you.”