Chronic stress

Chronic stress is stress that happens over a long period of time. It is different than acute stress, which happens over a short period of time and then goes away.

Stress is a normal part of every living thing's daily life. However, when stress becomes chronic, it can damage the body and the mind. When a person (or animal) is stressed, the body reacts in certain ways - for example, by releasing chemicals called corticosteroids.^[1][2] If this happens again and again, over a long period of time, it can change the way the brain works.^[3][4] These changes can damage working memory^[5] spatial memory,^[5] and decision-making skills.^[6] They can also increase aggression.^[7]

Chronic stress can cause (or worsen) many different medical problems. For example, people who have had chronic stress are more likely to get hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart disease.^[8]

Related pages

• Stress

References

1. Sapolsky RM. (1998). Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: An Updated Guide To Stress, Stress Related Diseases, and Coping. 2nd Rev Ed, W. H. Freeman ISBN 978-0-7167-3210-5
2. McEwen BS (2007). "Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain". Physiol Rev. 87 (3): 873–904. doi:10.1152/physrev.00041.2006. PMID 17615391. Archived from the original on 2010-02-09. Retrieved 2013-03-13.
3. Sousa N, Lukoyanov NV, Madeira MD, Almeida OF, Paula-Barbosa MM (2000). "Reorganization of the morphology of hippocampal neurites and synapses after stress-induced damage correlates with behavioral improvement". Neuroscience. 97 (2): 253–266. doi:10.1016/S0306-4522(00)00050-6. PMID 0799757. S2CID 22401477.
4. Radley JJ, Sisti HM, Hao J, Rocher AB, McCall T, Hof PR, McEwen BS, Morrison JH (2004). "Chronic behavioral stress induces apical dendritic reorganization in pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex". Neuroscience. 125 (1): 1–6. doi:10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.01.006. PMID 15051139. S2CID 33333690.
5. Mizoguchi K, Yuzurihara M, Ishige A, Sasaki H, Chui DH, Tabira T (2000). "Chronic stress induces impairment of spatial working memory because of prefrontal dopaminergic dysfunction". J Neurosci. 20 (4): 1568–74. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.20-04-01568.2000. PMC 6772382. PMID 10662846.
6. Dias-Ferreira E, Sousa JC, Melo I, Morgado P, Mesquita AR, Cerqueira JJ, Costa RM, Sousa N (2009). "Chronic Stress Causes Frontostriatal Reorganization and Affects Decision-Making". Science. 325 (5940): 621–625. doi:10.1126/science.1171203. PMID 19644122. S2CID 26242186.
7. Mineur YS, Prasol DJ, Belzung C, Crusio WE (September 2003). "Agonistic behavior and unpredictable chronic mild stress in mice" (PDF). Behavior Genetics. 33 (5): 513–519. doi:10.1023/A:1025770616068. PMID 14574128. S2CID 20402648. Retrieved 2009-08-16.^{[permanent dead link]}
8. Blascovich J., Spencer S. J., Quinn D. M., Steele C. M. (2001). "African Americans and high blood pressure: The role of stereotype threat". Psychological Science. 13 (3): 225–229. doi:10.1111/1467-9280.00340. PMID 11437305. S2CID 2590855.