Discussion Post: Stress, Illness and Specific Populations
The type of illness that results from too much stress depends on a variety of factors. Your age, gender, ethnic heritage, culture, and even geographical location all influence your response to developing stress-related illnesses. Some populations are more vulnerable to the effects of stress, just as some populations are more susceptible to certain diseases. Population-based health care focuses on assessing health needs, planning culturally sensitive prevention and intervention programs, and improving public health.
In this context, populations are groups of people defined by a common condition that perhaps need focused health education, prevention programs, or treatment. The following are some examples of populations:
i. Pregnant women
ii. Military personnel returning from war
iii. Those with low socioeconomic status
iv. Those experiencing discrimination
v. Refugees
vi. Those with asthma
vii. The elderly
viii. Those experiencing significant loss
ix. Illegal immigrants
x. Those with cardiovascular disease
xi. Adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse
xii. Victims of crime
xiii. Those with serious mental illness
Whether it is poverty, grief, or discrimination, the variety of stressors that members of these populations might encounter does not vanish overnight. As a result, the persistence of stress can contribute to long-lasting illness or chronic disease, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, obesity, and arthritis. Seventy percent of all deaths in the United States are due to chronic disease. Fifty percent of Americans have at least one chronic disease. Chronic diseases are the most common and expensive diseases facing the world and since most chronic diseases have modifiable risk factors, most are preventable. The most common modifiable risks are poor diet, lack of exercise, and tobacco, alcohol, or drug use.
For this Discussion, review the Learning Resources including the Stress and Immune-Related Disease" section of the " Stress, the Immune System, Chronic Illness, and Your Body" handout. Select an illness to use for this Discussion. Think about a population that is more susceptible to this illness and a population that is less susceptible to this illness.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post a brief description of the illness you selected. Then describe one population that is more susceptible and one population that is less susceptible to this illness and explain why. Include how stress and coping might differ between these populations. Be specific.
The response should include a reference list. Double-space, using Times New Roman 12 pnt font, one-inch margins, and APA style of writing and citations.