INFLUENCE OF STRESS ON INDIVIDUAL HEALTH – A CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Stress is considered as an integral part of modern life. It is the psychological or physiological reaction that occurs when an individual perceives an imbalance between the level of demand placed upon him and his capability for meeting that demand. The phenomenal rate of social and technical change also had its great impact on people’s life style which is carried over into their jobs. Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. When you are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It makes hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy. This is called the fight-or-flight stress response. The hormones increase our heart rate, breathing, blood pressure, metabolism and muscle tension. Our pupils dilate and our perspiration rate increases. While these physical changes help us try to meet the challenges of the stressful situation, they can cause other physical or psychological symptoms if the stress is ongoing and the physical changes do not settle down.

Keywords: Stress, Psychological, Physiological, body responds, fight-or-flight and stress response