Recently, English actor Kate Beckinsale experienced significant grief due to the passing of her stepfather. This emotional distress was so intense that it damaged her oesophagus, leading her to vomit substantial amounts of blood and requiring a six-week hospitalization. While people often discuss the emotional impact of grief and stress, less attention is given to their effects on other parts of the body. Could grief lead to severe physical symptoms like vomiting blood? It is possible. Stress is known to be connected to many conditions affecting nearly every body system. Beckinsale might have been dealing with peptic ulcers, commonly caused by the bacterium H pylori, though some research suggests stress could play a role.
Early accounts from Dr. Burrill Crohn (associated with Crohn’s disease) noted stress ulcers in patients who had experienced severe psychological trauma. Later observational studies linked stress with peptic ulcers and associated anxiety and depression with the condition. Another study noted a connection between peptic ulcers and negative life experiences, such as divorce or widowhood.
Stress is not solely linked to ulcers; it can trigger other health conditions. Generally, stress is split into two categories: physiological and psychological. Physiological stress challenges our physical functioning, such as extreme temperatures or shock from blood loss or infection. Psychological stress impacts mental functioning, like job loss, assault, or bereavement. Some situations, like traumatic injury, can be both physiological and psychological stressors. Responses to stress differ widely among individuals, complicating the study of its effects.
Many mental health disorders may be related to stress, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) being possibly the most well-known. It occurs after a traumatic event, along with grief reactions after bereavement or loss, and generalized anxiety disorder, where anxiety persists chronically.
Regardless of its source, stress triggers a biological response in the body. Common physical symptoms include an accelerated heartbeat, palpitations, rapid breathing, temperature changes, and sweating, along with shakiness, nausea, or numbness. In some cases, stress can cause severe symptoms like chest pain, a choking sensation, or faintness.
The stress response originates in the brain, controlling the body. The sympathetic nervous system plays a crucial role, initiating “fight and flight” responses through hormones like adrenaline from the adrenal medulla. The pituitary gland, the hormonal leader, also starts other hormonal cycles in the bloodstream. Together, the sympathetic nervous system and hormonal reactions manage heart, lung, and other organ functions while boosting metabolism.
These responses are key for survival. Imagine a lion has bitten your leg. The lion, the bleeding, and your fear are stressors. To avoid becoming the lion’s meal, your body readies itself for either fighting back or fleeing.
Fortunately, the body’s stress response energizes your heart, lungs, and energy sources, preparing you to act. However, when stress is linked to severe trauma or occurs frequently, symptoms can become chronic and problematic. The conversion of psychological stressors into physical symptoms is called “somatization.” Stress is a potential cause for conditions affecting various body systems, such as the heart, gut, joints, and pelvic organs.
The cause of irritable bowel syndrome, which results in bloating, abdominal pain, and constipation or diarrhea, remains unknown. Hypotheses include abnormal gut activity and sensitivity, but stress and mental health might be contributing factors. Other conditions linked to stress and mood include hyperventilation syndrome, fibromyalgia, and tension headaches, among others.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome, is an unusual condition triggered by intense grief or joy, causing symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath, showing how powerful stressors can lead to heart failure.