Stress and Cancer - Can Stress Lead to Cancer?

Some human activities, such as smoking, are known to lead to cancer. Researchers have been trying to discover whether psychological factors can lead to the formation of malignant rumors, as well as other relationships between stress and cancer. It is worth asking whether stress can be linked directly to the development of cancer.

Stress affects the body in a specific way. When you are under stress due to something bad happening in your life or due to a busy lifestyle in general, your body produces more adrenaline and another type of hormone called cortisol. Both hormones work to increase the heart rate, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. This can be quite harmful. In addition, a person who is under stress can drink more alcohol, smoke more or start smoking and/or gain weight.

All these consequences are harmful for the general health. Various studies have shown that they may provide for the development of cancer. Despite this, evidence is inconclusive. Researchers have not discovered a direct link between stress and the development of any type of malignant tumor. Despite this, it is worth looking as some of the strongest results that support the thesis that stress can lead to cancer.

Numerous studies have shown that high levels of persistent stress can result in the weakening of the immune system. In turn, it has been suggested that the body may become more vulnerable to viruses that cause cancer. This means that it is possible for chronic stress to lead to virus-associated cancer, such as lymphoma.

The most recent studies in this field have involved the testing of animals having diseases similar to the ones in humans. The findings have led researchers to conclude that the release of stress hormones into the blood stream may lead to changes in processes in the cell that can prevent cancer. These changes occur in processes that repair the cell DNA after damage and ones that control the growth of cells. This means that it may be possible for stress to result in the reduction of the natural protection of the body against the formation of tumors.

Overall, it cannot be said with certainty whether stress can lead to cancer. The important thing to keep in mind is that this psychological condition affects negatively both the body and the behavior. For this reason, it is worth taking adequate measure for stress reduction. These may include mediation, yoga, aromatherapy, practicing of a kind of sport as well as more effective time management.