It has been purported on numerous occasions that stress can have long term effects. Recently, this hypothesis has been compounded by the appearance of studies that have investigated the effects of sustained stress on the expression of genes.
The field encompassing the interplay between genes and the external environment is known more generally as epigenetics. More simply, the study of epigenetics is concerned with the identification and description of so-called “gene switches” that can be activated by various factors including psychological trauma, smoking, and even diet.
A recent article in Psychology Today discusses the effects of stress on gene expression with reference to a 2013 study. The study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that exposure to chronic stress resulted in the up-regulation of certain proinflammatory genes of the immune system. Further, that this elevation of immune activity in immune cells led to increased risk of diabetes, heart disease, and other serious health conditions in study subjects.
While at first these revelations may seem–somewhat ironically–rather stressful, it’s important to note that stress is a relatively normal human experience. It is pointed out in both the article as well as the original research paper that it is long term stress that poses the greatest risk to health. That is, stress that is relatively constant, enduring, and intense.
Still, it is thought-provoking to consider the undeniable connections between our psychology and our biology. It should not be shocking that cognitive and psychological experiences may impact (positively or negatively) the cellular mechanisms that govern our emotions, responsiveness to stressors (including pathogens), and subsequently our physical health. But sometimes, because of stigma and other misconceptions, it is. Indeed, the biological organism can be perceived as a network of feedback loops constantly relaying information between and amongst themselves in order to effectively respond to external stimuli. Evolutionarily, does it not make sense that the animal body is able to adjust to high levels of stress? Especially by increasing immune activity, given that the immune system is on the front lines facing the external environment, alongside fight-or-flight responses?
All in all, my fellow university students, take comfort in the fact that your body is and always has been able to adapt. And don’t begrudge it for taking things to the extreme– it seems that life is but a series of trade-offs. That being said, if you are suffering from severe stress, anxiety, or other related troubles, please talk to someone you trust.
Sources:
Studies in the Biological Sciences at UBC.
Gaynor, Mitchell L. “How Stress Changes Your Genes.” Psychology Today. Sussex Publishers, 6 Jan. 2015. Web. 7 Jan. 2015. <http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/your-genetic-destiny/201501/how-stress-changes-your-genes-0>.
“Epigenetics: Fundamentals.” What Is Epigenetics. Web. 1 Jan. 2015. <http://www.whatisepigenetics.com/fundamentals/>.
Powell, Nicole D., Erika K. Sloan, Michael T. Bailey, Jesusa M.G. Arevalo, Gregory E. Miller, Edith Chen, Michael S. Kobor, Brenda F. Reader, John F. Sheridan, and Steven W. Cole. “Social Stress Up-regulates Inflammatory Gene Expression in the Leukocyte Transcriptome via β-adrenergic Induction of Myelopoiesis.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 110.41 (2013): 16574–16579. PNAS. Web. 2015. <http://www.pnas.org/content/110/41/16574.abstract>.