Stress increases risk of chronic illness

Feeling excessively tired, experiencing sleep difficulties, irritability, or unexplained anxiety might be dismissed as daily pressures, but prolonged stress can severely harm health. Malaysia's 2023 National Health and Morbidity Survey revealed that nearly one million adults aged 15 and above suffer from depression. Among children, one in six faces mental health issues, nearly double the rate in 2019.

Biomedically, stress triggers the brain to produce the hormone cortisol. While helpful in short bursts for immediate responses, chronically high cortisol levels disrupt vital bodily functions. This includes sleep disturbances, elevated blood pressure, altered sugar and fat metabolism, and a weakened immune system. It also impairs the body's ability to repair cell damage and control inflammation.

Research indicates that chronic stress can reduce the effectiveness of natural killer cells and increase inflammatory agents like interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a). Persistent inflammation is linked to a higher risk of various non-communicable diseases. While not a direct cause of cancer, stress can create a biological environment conducive to disease development when combined with factors like obesity, smoking, lack of exercise, and poor diet.

Stress also negatively affects lifestyle choices. Stressed individuals may neglect exercise, opt for unhealthy foods, suffer from sleep disorders, or adopt other detrimental habits. This combination of factors ultimately elevates the risk of chronic diseases. However, stress can be managed effectively through regular physical activity, a balanced diet, sufficient sleep, social support from family and friends, spiritual practices, and relaxation techniques, all of which help mitigate the physiological effects of pressure.