There's a Chinese adage that goes like: "Misery always finds the miserable". It refers to when afflicted people become more afflicted by unexpected turns in lives- such as a financially challenged person who's constantly under big stress one day finds out that he's diagnosed for cancer.
More or less we all know that stress is bad for your health. It has the potential to lead to depression, anxiety, substance dependency, along with other physical problems such as acne, menstrual problems, and heart diseases. Many people wonder (up to half of the population), in addition to these diseases, is stress also a valid cause for cancer?
Is stress actually a direct cause of cancer?
No, stress is not a direct cause of cancer, however, it is an indirect factor to cancer due to its cause to abnormal hormone production and weakened immune system.
Studies have shown that stress stimulates the body into fight-or-flight response, which release chemicals such as norepinephrine that can awaken the dormant cancer cells by binding to the receptors on the surface of cancer cells.
Other evidence also showed that chronic stress leads to the secretion of glucocorticoids- a hormone that prevents tumor cell apoptosis by signaling the cell to code anti-apoptotic proteins of a tumor cell. Excess glucocorticoids can also increase chemotherapy resistance by preventing apoptosis- the major mechanism behind chemotherapy. Chronic stress can also weaken the immune by constantly releasing the cortisol hormone until the body gets used to it.
Stress can also indirectly cause cancer by leading to unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, drinking- both cause damage to DNA which may lead to mutations.
To sum all up, be aware of your personal health while under constant stress to prevent exacerbating the condition by inducing further health problems.
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Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board