JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN HEALTH AND SPORT SCIENCE (JORHASS)

Department of Phys!a" # Hea"th E$%!aton

&ayero Un'ersty( )ano
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(Co-ordinate Editor) (Editor In-Chief)
STRESS AS A -LO&AL HEALTH PRO&LE.
+"
1
Dr/ Sheh% Raheem A$arama0a # Dr/ (.rs/) Urs%"a( C/ Nna1%e2e
Abstract
The paper examined the meanings of stress and those factors that can
predispose an individual to a stressful life situation. Stress is seen as a body of
mental tensions caused by some physical chemical or emotional factors. The
paper also discussed the interrelationship bet!een stress and human health.
This is in addition to the various behavioural tendencies like smoking alcohol
consumption and accident resting from stress as sources of human health
problems. The paper also examined implications of stress to men like incidence
of obesity hypertension stroke sudden death heart diseases accident
chemical and physiological disturbances. The paper also revie!ed some health
education programmes and strategies for coping !ith stress. "inally the authors
recommended among others that the three #$% tiers of government should
provide recreational facilities and create enabling conditions for citi&ens so as to
remove stressful situations from the people for healthful living.
Intro$%!ton
Stress is considered a global health problem because of its implication on
the health of the people$ Stress here applies to the normal difficulties of life
hether they are large or small$ *nly an infant ,(-. years/ leads a virtually stress
0 free life, since hen he is uncomfortable or in pain, he cries and usually his
discomfort it removed$ +y the time he is three ,1/ or four ,2/ years old, he is given
tas#s hich re3uire some initiative, responsibility and even judgment$ 4e is
expected to be somehat more independent$ Stress then is part of life from
childhood$ Stress varies in nature, amount and duration$
5ny difficulty can be considered a stress, including even genetic factors
hich predispose an individual to illness and also certain congenital handicaps
physical and mental$ Stresses are products of external and internal environment$
6xample of external stress could be physical factors such as illness, malnutrition
2
or a difficult or# assignment ,academic pressures and social pressures/$ *ther
examples of psychosocial stresses coming from outside include excessive family
responsibilities, unfriendly neighbours or boss, frightening situations of any #ind,
a ne experience or parental neglect$ 6xample of internal stress includes various
illnesses, hormonal changes that occur during adolescence or menopause, and
even certain normal physical reactions such as palpitations occurring hen
frightened$
The Defnton of Stress
5 leading researcher in the field of stress, and of course someone ho
could be referred to as the 7father of stress8, Dr$ 4ans Selye, defined stress as
nonspecific response of the body to any demand ,Selye, 9:;1/$ <n other ord,
stress, can be simply defined as a body of mental tensions caused by some
physical, chemical or emotional factors$
3 Dr/ Sheh% Raheem A$arama0a is a lecturer in the Department of
%hysical and 4ealth 6ducation, =niversity of <lorin, <lorin, &igeria$
3 Dr/ (.rs/) Urs%"a( C/ Nna1%e2e is a lecturer in the Department of 4ealth
and %hysical 6ducation, 6nugu State$ =niversity of Science and
Technology, 6nugu State$ &igeria$
3
JORHASS Jan 4 J%ne 5667
The 6ncyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, &ursing and 5llied 4ealth
,Miller > Sain 9:;?/ suggests that stress is the sum of all the non-specific
biological phenomena elicited by adverse external influences, including damage
and defence, stress may be either physical or psychological or both$
Steadman@s Medical Dictionary ,9:;./ defines stress as!
9$ The reactions of the animal or human body to forces of deleterious nature
infectious and various abnormal states that tend to disturb its normal
physiological e3uilibrium$
.$ The resisting force set up in a body as a result of an externally applied
force$
1$ <n psychology, a physical or psychological stimulus, hen impinging upon
an individual produces train or dise3uilibrium ,Steadman@s Med Dic$,
9:;./$
<n the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, the use of the ord stress
changed to indicate 7strain, pressure, tension, force or poor-fit8, hich are
perceived and recogniAed by man and are caused by stressors ,Bohen, 9::;/$
Stressors are factors that cause stress$ This include loss of loved ones, the fear
of examinations, expectations, competitions, hunger, or#-load uncondusive
environmental conditions, fear of punishment, noise, vibration inade3uate
ventilation, fatigue, travel on a long journey, traffic jams, leadership style, group
pressure, role conflict, job insecurity, social density, unemployment,
relationships beteen or# and family, divorce and single parenthood, etc$
4
<t is important to point out that stressors excite or agitate$ +ut no one can
determine before hand hether, in any given situation, the same stressor ill
produce enstress or distress$ Selye ,9:;1/ distinguished beteen the to
varieties of stress! Distress is the harmful stress of unpleasant events, hile
enstress refers to response to positive stimuli$
Stress and Health
When e are faced ith a threat hether real or imagined 0 the body
responds in hat is called the 7Cights or Clights Deaction8 ,%ee#e, .(((, >
Saladin, .((9/$ Eirtually every organs and chemical constituents of the human
body is involved in this reaction$ 5ccording to them, the thyroid gland releases
hormones, hich stimulate metabolism$ The liver provides energy-yielding
material to satisfy the body@s increased demand and regulate the concentration
of sugar, protein and other elements in blood$ The hite blood cells regulate the
immune reaction to various foreign substances$ The hypothalamus stimulates the
pituitary gland, hich secrets hormones into the blood$ +lood flos aay from
the s#in, the digestive organs and brain and muscles$
5ll the above-mentioned physiological changes as a result of stressor,s/
lead to those manifestation of stress that e can readily observe! agitation, loss
of appetite, impulsive behaviour or emotional instability, increased blood
pressure, dilated pupils, dry mouth, accelerated pulse, anxiety and excitement,
insomnia, grinding of teeth, seating, fatigue, inability to concentrate, increased
smo#ing, pain in the nec# or loer bac#, pre-menstrual tension or missed
menstrual cycles, migraine headaches, accident proneness, nightmares,
5
increased use of legally and illegally prescribed drugs, violence and destructive
tendency, diarrhoea, indigestion, uneasiness in the stomach and sometimes
vomiting ,signs of disturbed gastrointestinal function that can lead to peptic ulcers
and ulcerative colitis/$
&eha'o%ra" Responses to Stress as So%r!es of H%man Hea"th Pro1"em(s)
%eople engage in a number of unhealthy behaviour in an attempt to deal
ith stressful life situations$ Most often, these behavioural responses resulted
into serious health related problems for the individuals$ The folloing are some of
the unhealthy behavioural responses to stress$
Smo8n9
%eople commonly turn to tobacco as a means of dealing ith stressful
situations$ 4a#ins, White and Morris ,9:;1/, reported that 1',((( nurses in the
=nited Fingdom ,=F/ found that smo#ing as one of the most commonly
reported ays of coping ith stress$ Smo#ing as a coping strategy contributes to
an estimated 1'(,((( premature deaths each year ,&ational Bancer <nstitute,
9:;'/$ The 5merican 4ealth 5ssociation ,9:;G/ and Shehu ,.(('/ also noted
that cigarette smo#ing is the biggest factors for sudden death in 5merican and
Southern part of Faduna State, &igeriaH smo#ers have beteen to to four times
the ris# of non-smo#ers$ Shehu ,.(('/ reported that at least .' per cent of all
deaths from heart diseases in Southern part of Faduna State are caused by
smo#ing and excessive alcohol consumption$ <n Ireat +ritain, 545 ,9:;G/
reported that cancer of the trachea, bronchus and lung rate third as #iller disease
among males in the 9G 0 G2 years age group in the 9:;(s$
6
A"!oho"
5lcohol is used to relieve stress and help the individual to manage a crisis,
but in reality, alcohol renders the distressed person less able to cope and prone
to accident conditions$ Cleming ,9:;G/ and Westrin ,.(((/ suggest that there
seems to be a strong lin# beteen stress, alcohol consumption and accidents$
5lcohol consumptions have been associated ith hypertension and obesity in
number of epidemiological studies ,Jarbi, Booper and Stanler, 9:;1/$ +oth high
blood pressure and obesity increase the ris# of heart diseases$ Therefore, the
effect of alcohol has immediate conse3uences in terms of behavioural change for
the individual and those around him or her$ Kudgement and co-ordination are
li#ely to be impaired and reactions are sloed, rendering the person more
vulnerable to accidents ,Shehu, .(('/$ 5lcohol consumption may lead to loss of
jobs, cirrhosis of the liver ,liver damage/ and hypertension$ 5 combination of all
these and many more may lead to premature death$
A!!$ents
5ccidents may be defined as an unplanned event, hich could result in
injury to person, damage to properties or death, all these are the conse3uences
of unplanned ,unsafe/ acts or unplanned ,unsafe/ physical conditions created by
people ,Kones, 9:;. and 5desoye, .((9/, stress has been implicated as a
causal factor in all types of accident,s/$ The physiological effects of stress include
sloed reaction time fatigue, impaired concentration, and poor physical co-
ordination$ Crom a psychological perspective, insecurity, orry and anxiety may
impair one@s ability to concentrate, mental turmoil and distraction reduces
7
efficiency and increases potential accident vulnerability$ What is often described
as carelessness is more li#ely to be thoughtlessness because judgment of a
situation is restricted or bloc#ed$ The above examination of physiological and
psychological stressors, has shon that or shos that stress is a prime
contributor to the occurrence of accidents,s/$
The Conse:%en!e of Stress
FrantA, Irunberg and +aum ,9::'/, are of the opinion that stress have
direct psycho-physiological effects, including constriction of coetaneous blood
vessels, secretion of seat, increased secretion of adrenalin from the adrenalin
medulla of the hypothalamus in the brain$ 6xposure to stress increases the
production of cortisol from the adrenal cortex$ Bortisol, is a substance that
influences carbohydrate and protein metabolism$ 5 deficiency in the production
of cortisol may result to the disorder of carbohydrate metabolism and ultimately
diabetes may result$
The psychological effect may predispose an individual to excessive eating
behaviour, a situation hich, if persists, may result in obesity and overeight$
Bardiovascular disease due to stress is the most prominent #iller among
industrialiAed nations$ Mase# ,.(((/ reported that heart disease due to stress is
responsible for 1; per cent of male 9? per cent of female deaths among 1' 0 G2
years old in 6ngland and Wales$
Stress may lead to health impairing habits or behaviour$ <n an attempt to
escape stressful situation, individual may result to the use, misuse and abuse of
8
drugs such as tobacco, <ndian hemp, tran3uiliAers, sleeping pills and alcohol
consumption$
Hea"th E$%!aton Pro9rammes n Copn9 ;th Stress
Boping is not only a reaction to stress, it may be vieed as a preventive
strategy, if a potential stressful situation is anticipated$ Ways of coping are varied
and include, confronting strategies, distancing, see#ing social support, escape 0
avoidance, good physical health ,good nutrition, exercise, rest and sleep/H
diversion and being realistic about your goals$
5 formidable 4ealth 6ducation programme in coping ith stressful
situations and potential stress conditions as postulated by %ayne and 4ahn,
,.(('% are as follo!s(
9
9$ Wor# off Stress! Iet into a physically-demanding activity such as running,
ashing the car, atching interesting films, listening to stories, etc$
.$ Tal# out your orries* Share your concerns ith a friend$
1$ Jearn to accept hat you can not change! <dentify and appreciate your
physical ability$
2$ Don@t mas# your problems ith hard drugs or alcohol$
'$ Ta#e care, of your health! Do not allo stress to interfere ith your
sleeping and eating patterns$
G$ 6njoy yourself! Delax ith some forms of recreation$
?$ Do something for others! Trying to help someone ill distract you from
your on problem$
;$ Ta#e one thing at a time$
:$ Ma#e yourself available! <nteract or associate ith others and let others
understand your problems and difficulties for possible assistance$
9($ Select a 3uiet room and sit on a comfortable chair$ 5djust yourself so that
you are as relaxed as possible$
Con!"%son
Stress is unavoidable, but it is not harmful$ Some forms of stress such as
exercise, are beneficial$ These beneficial stresses have been termed 7enstress8
hile distress refers to negative tensions that have been aroused in our bodies
by some environmental, social or chemical factors$ 5ccording to Selye ,9:;1/,
7stress in the non-specific response of the body to any demand8$
10
When under stress our body undergoes a complex series of chemical
reactions that are handed over from a more primitive and physically-active time$
<t is also concluded that, though the causal connection beteen stress and
disease has not been fully established, there is consensus that stress
undoubtedly aggravates a disease once it is present$ Stress can create a
condition similar to intoxication in human mind and body, and this can ma#e
people ho are under stress more prone to violence than they ould be
otherise$ <t is particularly unise to drive under the effects of stress$
The paper also examines some behavioural response li#e alcohol,
smo#ing, malnutrition ,over-feeling and under-feeling/ and accident as source of
human health problems$
Cinally, the paper highlighted some coping strategies and 4ealth
6ducation programmes for a stressful condition$
Re!ommen$atons
Iovernment at all levels ,federal, state and local/ should create enabling
environment for its citiAens so as to remove stressful conditions from the
people, that is, they should provide both physiological and psychological
needs of the people, in addition to the provision of recreational facilities or
centres in the communities$
Wor#shops, seminars and public lectures should be organiAed for the
people to enable them appreciate various coping strategies li#e good
nutrition, exercise, rest and sleep, diversion, meditation and social support
against stressful situations$
11
They should be made to identify and appreciate various effect of pressure
,stress/ on bodily functions and ho to avoid such conditions$ Such
conditions include hypertension, migraine headaches, chest pain,
muscular tension and pain, heartburn and indigestion, menstrual
disorders, abdominal pain and diarrhea$
<ndividual should appreciate their abilities and inabilities in an attempt to
prevent a stressful situation$
4ealth counsellors, occupational therapists and other health professionals
ith sound #noledge of stress should be employed or serve as
consultants to our schools, industries, government establishments and
private sectors in an attempt to prevent stress-related-accident situations$
5dolescence should be educated on the effects of drug abuse, alcoholism,
smo#ing and other situations that are prone to accident$



12
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13
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