Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Stress and Functional Illness

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Functional Illness of the Head and Neck

  • 551 Accesses

Abstract

Stressors, broadly defined as any real or perceived challenges to homeostasis, trigger adaptive responses, leading to a cascade of physiologic changes. Once activated, the sympathetic nervous system prepares the body to take action by speeding up the heart, dilating airways, increasing blood flow to skeletal muscles, and slowing gastrointestinal and urinary functions. Acutely, these responses can be lifesaving, but they become harmful when chronically activated. Chronic stress can result in a range of symptoms such as anxiety, muscle aches and pains, GI distress, and headaches, and is linked to the development of diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and depression. When it comes to functional head and neck illnesses, it is important to consider the role stress may play in both pathogenesis and symptom exacerbation. By offering support and stress management strategies, providers can significantly reduce both symptom severity and mental stress for their patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 99.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 129.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhang X, Ge TT, Yin G, Cui R, Zhao G, Yang W. Stress-induced functional alterations in amygdala: implications for neuropsychiatric diseases. Front Neurosci. 2018;12:367.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  2. LeDoux JE. Brain mechanisms of emotion and emotional learning. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 1992;2(2):191–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Ressler KJ. Amygdala activity, fear, and anxiety: modulation by stress. Biol Psychiatry. 2010;67(12):1117–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Joss D, Khan A, Lazar SW, Teicher MH. A pilot study on amygdala volumetric changes among young adults with childhood maltreatment histories after a mindfulness intervention. Behav Brain Res. 2021;399:113023.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Morey RA, Gold AL, LaBar KS, Beall SK, Brown VM, Haswell CC, et al. Amygdala volume changes in posttraumatic stress disorder in a large case-controlled veterans group. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2012;69(11):1169–78.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  6. Klaming R, Spadoni AD, Veltman DJ, Simmons AN. Expansion of hippocampal and amygdala shape in posttraumatic stress and early life stress. NeuroImage: Clinical. 2019;24:101982.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cannon WB. Bodily changes in pain, hunger, fear, and rage. D. Appleton and company; 1915.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Robertson DW, Biaggioni I, Burnstock G, Low P, Paton JFR. Primer on the autonomic nervous system. Elsevier Inc.; 2012. p. 703.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Auchus RJ, Parker KL. The adrenal glands. Textbook of endocrine physiology. 6th ed. Oxford University Press; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Shahid Z, Asuka E, Singh G. Physiology, hypothalamus. Treasure Island (FL).: StatPearls Publishing. Copyright © 2021, StatPearls Publishing LLC.: StatPearls; 2021.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Ojeda SR. The anterior pituitary and hypothalamus. Textbook of endocrine physiology. 6th ed. Oxford University Press; 2011.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Willich SN, Klatt S, Arntz HR. Circadian variation and triggers of acute coronary syndromes. Eur Heart J. 1998;19(Suppl C):C12-23.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Benediktsson R, Lindsay RS, Noble J, Seckl JR, Edwards CR. Glucocorticoid exposure in utero: new model for adult hypertension. Lancet. 1993;341(8841):339–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Harris A, Seckl J. Glucocorticoids, prenatal stress and the programming of disease. Horm Behav. 2011;59(3):279–89.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Chronic stress puts your health at risk. Mayo Clinic; 2019. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037.

  16. Pavlides C, Nivón LG, McEwen BS. Effects of chronic stress on hippocampal long-term potentiation. Hippocampus. 2002;12(2):245–57.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Dhabhar FS. Effects of stress on immune function: the good, the bad, and the beautiful. Immunol Res. 2014;58(2–3):193–210.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Pedersen AF, Zachariae R, Bovbjerg DH. Psychological stress and antibody response to influenza vaccination: a meta-analysis. Brain Behav Immun. 2009;23(4):427–33.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Coughlin SS. Anxiety and depression: linkages with viral diseases. Public Health Rev. 2012;34(2):7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ebrecht M, Hextall J, Kirtley L-G, Taylor A, Dyson M, Weinman J. Perceived stress and cortisol levels predict speed of wound healing in healthy male adults. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 2004;29(6):798–809.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Dhabhar FS. Enhancing versus suppressive effects of stress on immune function: implications for immunoprotection and immunopathology. Neuroimmunomodulation. 2009;16(5):300–17.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  22. Wirsching M, McDaniel SH, Fritzsche K. Psychosomatic medicine : an international guide for the primary care setting. 2nd ed. Springer; 2020.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Stress effects on the body: American Psychological Association; 2018 https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body.

  24. Stress Effects: The American Institute of Stress; 2020 https://www.stress.org/stress-effects.

  25. Stress: Cleveland Clinic; 2021 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress

  26. Madison A, Kiecolt-Glaser JK. Stress, depression, diet, and the gut microbiota: human-bacteria interactions at the core of psychoneuroimmunology and nutrition. Curr Opin Behav Sci. 2019;28:105–10.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Karl JP, Hatch AM, Arcidiacono SM, Pearce SC, Pantoja-Feliciano IG, Doherty LA, et al. Effects of psychological, environmental and physical stressors on the gut microbiota. Front Microbiol. 2018;9:2013.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Karl JP, Margolis LM, Madslien EH, Murphy NE, Castellani JW, Gundersen Y, et al. Changes in intestinal microbiota composition and metabolism coincide with increased intestinal permeability in young adults under prolonged physiological stress. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol. 2017;312(6):G559-g71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Mawdsley JE, Rampton DS. Psychological stress in IBD: new insights into pathogenic and therapeutic implications. Gut. 2005;54(10):1481–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  30. Brown CH. Acute emotional crises and ulcerative colitis. Am J Dig Dis. 1963;8(6):525–36.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Grundy L, Caldwell A, Brierley SM. Mechanisms underlying overactive bladder and interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. Front Neurosci. 2018;12:931.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  32. Birder LA. Pathophysiology of interstitial cystitis. Int J Urol. 2019;26(Suppl 1):12–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Baguley D, McFerran D, Hall D. Tinnitus. Lancet. 2013;382(9904):1600–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Esmaili A, Renton J. Tinnitus. Aust J Gen Pract. 2018;47:205–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Bhatt JM, Bhattacharyya N, Lin HW. Relationships between tinnitus and the prevalence of anxiety and depression. Laryngoscope. 2017;127(2):466–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Durai M, Searchfield G. Anxiety and depression, personality traits relevant to tinnitus: a scoping review. Int J Audiol. 2016;55(11):605–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Schlee W, Hølleland S, Bulla J, Simoes J, Neff P, Schoisswohl S, et al. The effect of environmental stressors on tinnitus: a prospective longitudinal study on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. J Clin Med. 2020;9:9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Marks E, Smith P, McKenna L. I Wasn't at war with the noise: how mindfulness based cognitive therapy changes Patients' experiences of tinnitus. Front Psychol. 2020;11:483.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  39. McKenna L, Marks EM, Vogt F. Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for chronic tinnitus: evaluation of benefits in a large sample of patients attending a tinnitus clinic. Ear Hear. 2018;39(2):359–66.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Nolan DR, Gupta R, Huber CG, Schneeberger AR. An effective treatment for tinnitus and hyperacusis based on cognitive behavioral therapy in an inpatient setting: a 10-year retrospective outcome analysis. Front Psych. 2020;11:25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Folmer RL, Shi YB. SSRI use by tinnitus patients: interactions between depression and tinnitus severity. Ear Nose Throat J. 2004;83(2):107–8. 10, 12 passim

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Baldo P, Doree C, Molin P, McFerran D, Cecco S. Antidepressants for patients with tinnitus. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012;2012(9):Cd003853.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  43. Yeo NL, White MP, Ronan N, Whinney DJ, Curnow A, Tyrrell J. Stress and unusual events exacerbate symptoms in Menière's disease: a longitudinal study. Otol Neurotol. 2018;39(1):73–81.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Basura GJ, Adams ME, Monfared A, Schwartz SR, Antonelli PJ, Burkard R, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Ménière's Disease. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2020;162(2_suppl):S1-s55.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Lee BE, Kim GH. Globus pharyngeus: a review of its etiology, diagnosis and treatment. World J Gastroenterol. 2012;18(20):2462–71.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  46. Manabe N, Tsutsui H, Kusunoki H, Hata J, Haruma K. Pathophysiology and treatment of patients with globus sensation—from the viewpoint of esophageal motility dysfunction. J Smooth Muscle Res. 2014;50:66–77.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Avni A. Shah

  2. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Ashley D. Agan

Authors
  1. Avni A. Shah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ashley D. Agan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ashley D. Agan .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Otolaryngology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Brian W. Blakley

  2. Winnipeg, MB, Canada

    Joan E. Blakley

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Shah, A.A., Agan, A.D. (2023). Stress and Functional Illness. In: Blakley, B.W., Blakley, J.E. (eds) Functional Illness of the Head and Neck. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12998-8_4

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-12998-8_4

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-12997-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-12998-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation