The Role of Stress in Gastrointestinal Illness
The gastrointestinal tract is one of the most sensitive
systems in the body. There is a large array of symptoms
that can be attributed to stress, and many illnesses may be due
in large part to stress. Symptoms such as hiccups,
belching, flatus (gas), bloating, nausea, diarrhea, abdominal
cramping, and urgency to have a bowel movement or urinate can be
stress related. Ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome, cyclical
vomiting, tension headaches, and fibromyalgia can all be caused
in part by stress. Exacerbations of ulcerative colitis and
Crohn’s disease occur in the face of exacerbated stress.
Stress that can cause these symptoms and ailments often come
from the common stresses of daily life. These include
stress due to interactions with the family, friends, job related
issues, and the myriad of problems and crises that occur in
one’s life. Financial, spousal problems, divorce, single
parenthood and illness in the family are major causes of stress
that can lead to real (organic) illness. There are very
few among us who do not have significant stress in our lives.
Often, however, this goes unrecognized, and therefore nothing is
done to try to resolve it.
Treatments for stress may include relation techniques, stress
management, yoga, meditation, exercising, avoiding stressful
situations (and people), psychoanalyst therapy or sedative
medications.
Since stress may be the root problem for many of the problems listed above, until this is resolved, the problems may be treated, but won’t be fully resolved.
