Makoto R Hara, Jeffrey J Kovacs, Erin J Whalen, Sudarshan Rajagopal, Ryan T Strachan, Wayne Grant, Aaron J Towers, Barbara Williams, Christopher M Lam, Kunhong Xiao, Sudha K Shenoy, Simon G Gregory, Seungkirl Ahn, Derek R Duckett, Robert J Lefkowitz
The human mind and body respond to stress, a state of perceived threat to homeostasis, by activating the sympathetic nervous system and secreting the catecholamines adrenaline and noradrenaline in the 'fight-or-flight' response. The stress response is generally transient because its accompanying effects (for example, immunosuppression, growth inhibition and enhanced catabolism) can be harmful in the long term. When chronic, the stress response can be associated with disease symptoms such as peptic ulcers or cardiovascular disorders, and epidemiological studies strongly indicate that chronic stress leads to DNA damage...
August 21, 2011: Nature