How stress affects cancer risk

压力是生活的一部分。你觉得它，当你准备过节，堵在路上或担心朋友的健康。虽然有点压力是什么发愁，那种强烈的担心，数周或数月不散可能使你很难保持健康。

“压力对你的身体系统的运作方式产生深远的影响，”洛伦佐·科恩博士，一般肿瘤学和行为科学教授，中西医结合治疗项目主任MD安德森说。健康专家仍在整理压力是否真的会导致癌症。然而，有一点毋庸置疑，它促进了某些形式的疾病的生长和扩散。简单地说，“压力会让你的身体更适宜癌症，”科恩说。

Not all stress is equally harmful

阿尼尔K.苏德，医学博士，在MD安德森妇科肿瘤及生殖医学教授说，有两种不同类型的压力，只有一个似乎是对你的健康非常糟糕。

Short-term or acute stress, like the type you might feel before giving a speech or fighting holiday shopping crowds, tends to subside as soon as the event passes. “It’s stress that comes from situations you know you can manage or will be over at some set time,” Cohen says.

但长期或慢性压力更损害。从情况下这种类型的压力弹簧，去年许多几周或几个月没有明确的终点。“照顾一位生病的亲人或失业的长的限制交易，即慢性压力的常见原因，”科恩说。

这种类型的无终的In-Sight压力会削弱你的免疫系统，让你容易像癌症等疾病。它还UPS你的消化问题和抑郁症的风险。“慢性压力也可以帮助癌细胞生长和扩散在许多方面，”苏德说。

应激激素可以抑制一种称为失巢凋亡过程中，杀死病变细胞并防止它们传播，苏德说。慢性压力也增加了生产的某些生长因子，增加你的血液供应。这可以加速癌肿瘤的发展，他补充道。

找到健康的方式来应对压力

What can you do about stress? Removing the cause is the clear answer. But that’s not always possible when it comes to the types of things that cause chronic stress, Cohen says.

即使你不能摆脱你的压力源的自己，你可以学会管理它。这可以帮助你保持对慢性压力的盖子。它还可以帮助你预防应激的次要来源从缠绵到他们影响您的健康点。下面，科恩股份减小应力的策略。

跟一个专业

精神科医生或心理学家可以教你健康的方式来管理你的压力。

Strategies may include talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). These can help your brain uncover the connections between your thoughts, emotions and behaviors. “CBT can provide you with mental tools to manage the types of worry and anxiety that screw up your immune system and increase your disease risks,” Cohen says.

实践冥想或瑜伽

正念冥想和瑜伽已经证明了to combat stress. These movement-based activities give your mind a break from stress. They also can improve your mood and quality of life.

Aim for at least two 20-minute periods a day of meditation or similar relaxation techniques, Cohen says. That time shouldn’t include stimulating activities like watching television. “Sit quietly and try to keep your mind off any concerns. Think about visiting your favorite vacation spot or a quiet, safe place like your garden.”

Mediation and yoga also can help your brain soften the links between your thoughts, your emotions and unhealthy biological changes, he says. Put simply, these practices dampen your brain and body’s reactions to stressful events.

Get adequate sleep

“获得八小时睡眠，每天晚上是对抗压力的好防守，”科恩说。为什么？睡眠一整夜是适当的免疫功能是必需的。它还会影响你的情绪，记忆和能力的重点，专家说。Sticking to a regular sleep schedule, avoiding TV in bed and exercising regularly can all help you sleep more soundly.

Take stress seriously

要了解压力的负面后果是很重要的，尤其是当它涉及到你的癌症风险。“慢性压力是不是在我们的社会中一些人应该掉以轻心，”科恩说。

If you feel crankier than usual, you don’t have the energy you once had or you’re sleeping poorly, all of those could be signs of stress, Cohen says. Take steps to fix your problem before it affects your health in more serious ways.

请求在MD安德森的利达·希尔癌症防治中心网上预约或致电877-632-6789。