Page 21 - Florida Sentinel 4-2-21

Health
that work.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
For persons who have GERD, doctors have not noted an increase in their symptoms but the patients themselves report that the pain gets worse during a stressful situation. As might be expected, chronic stress would lead to chronic pain.
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
In a recent study, persons who had developed gastroen- teritis from the bacteria, Campylobacter were investi- gated. It was found that those who didn’t handle stress well
were more likely to develop IBS over time. The outcome was different for those who were depressed.
Peptic Ulcer Disease
Technically, this digestive disease is caused when the bacteria, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), weakens the mu- cous lining that protects the stomach. With the lining com- promised, the stomach acid can irritate the exposed lining and cause an ulcer. However, there is enough evidence to suggest that chronic stress can cause inflammation in the lin- ing, which may, in turn, lead to the development of ulcers.
Signs you could be under chronic stress include:
- Persistent fatigue
- Constant irritability
- Frequent headaches
- Having trouble concen-
trating
- Having disorganized
thoughts
- Being unable to sleep
well
- Feeling as if you’ve lost
control
- Changes in your appetite - Feeling helpless in the
situation or generally
- Experiencing digestive
issues
Chronic stress is danger- ous to your health. While per- sons don’t always talk about how it can specifically affect the digestive system, you shouldn’t ignore what’s hap- pening in your body. Do what you can to effectively manage your stress and you’ll see the positive impact.
Chronic stress can wreak havoc on a person’s mental and physical health. There is a significant link between the brain and the digestive sys- tem. Studies show that being under stress will increase gut motility and the secretion of fluids. That’s why your stom- ach flutters when you’re feel- ing anxious or the appetite might be suppressed when de- pression sets in.
If someone is under chronic stress, however, the digestive issues will be more pronounced. In fact, there are several illnesses that can be triggered or worsened when you’re stressed.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
While chronic stress might not cause inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s Dis- ease or ulcerative colitis, it can certainly make the conditions worse. If you’ve been under- going treatment to get the IBD under control, being con- stantly stressed can undo all
FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY FRIDAY PAGE 9-B