What is the relationship between stress and illness?

Question

The only relationship between stress and illness has to do with the effects of tension on blood pressure.

When stress causes the fight-or-flight response, it increases the body’s ability to fight an illness.

Stress can trigger certain illnesses, reduce the body’s ability to fight an illness, and make some diseases harder to control.

Prolonged stress can make a person tired, but it has no harmful effects on the immune system.

Answer 1

The most accurate statement regarding the relationship between stress and illness is:

Stress can trigger certain illnesses, reduce the body’s ability to fight an illness, and make some diseases harder to control.

Research has shown that chronic stress can lead to a range of health issues. It can weaken the immune system, making individuals more susceptible to infections and illnesses, and can exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and mental health disorders. Additionally, stress often contributes to unhealthy behaviors (e.g., poor diet, lack of exercise, substance abuse) that further increase health risks. Thus, the complex interplay between stress and illness encompasses both physiological and psychological dimensions.