Chronic Stress & Cancer

One huge problem with chronic stress is that we are not genetically programmed to handle it. When it comes to dealing with stress, humans haven't changed much genetically in the past few thousand years. Our adrenal stress response and neurological stress response are geared to fight, flee or freeze. Unfortunately, for over 99% of modern stressful situations, all three of those stress responses are not too helpful, since they are all geared to deal with immediate physical stress, not chronic psychological stress.

Many of us feel like we are being chased by a wild beast through the wilderness for years. The result is adrenal burnout. Chronic stress also causes chronic inflammation, which is associated with most diseases, ranging from obesity and diabetes to heart disease and cancer. Chronic stress can also increase the rate that cancer can spread or metastasize.

How Does Stress Promote the Spread of Cancer?

Cancer cells typically spread to other areas of the body either through blood vessels, or through the lymphatic system.

Stress hormones activate the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to increase the rate of lymph formation. The stress hormone adrenaline also causes physical changes in the lymph vessels, allowing cancer cells to migrate into other body parts at a faster rate.

Another stress hormone, norepinephrine can stimulate tumor cells to produce two matrix metalloproteinases compounds that break down the tissue around the tumor cells and allow the cells to more easily move into your bloodstream. Once there, they can travel to other organs and tissues and then form additional tumors.

Reducing Stress:

We all have stress, but simply put, being able to handle stress, can be the difference between life and death. The key is to find out what works best for you.

Here are 12 stress management approaches to consider from Dr. Mercola:

1. Sleep: Sleep deprivation dramatically impairs your body’s ability to handle stress and is yet another risk factor for heart attack, so making sure you get adequate sleep is key for any successful stress management program.

2. Tai Chi and Qi Gong: While the evidence is limited, one 2014 meta-analysis found that tai chi can help ameliorate depression and anxiety, improve psychological well-being, and provide general stress management.

3. Regular physical activity

4. Meditation: - Taking even 10 minutes to sit quietly, such as during work breaks, can help decrease your feelings of stress and anxiety.

5. Mindfulness training: Research has shown that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is as effective as antidepressants in preventing depression relapse.

6. Yoga: Health benefits from regular yoga practice have been shown to decrease stress, improve sleep and immune function, and reduce food cravings, among other things.

7. Social connectedness

8. Laughter and levity

9. Spend time in nature

10. Music

11. Schedule time to have fun

12. Aromatherapy

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