So I had my biology final today.
Pretty serious stuff but not as intense as the scene in the school library this
morning. It looked as if everyone was playing an intense game of chess. I was
hoping someone would yell out "Checkmate!" and it will all be over,
but no, it is finals week. It is also known as the most stressful time for
college students. The week when everything is due for students who did not do
it already. It is the defining moment for scholars. Being a college student in
New York City is tough, everything is around the corner except a library.
Walked by a liquor store and got tempted but then realized that I would need
lots of it when I am a doctor, so I will spare my liver the trouble for now. At
least that is what everyone keeps telling me. We all experience some level of
stress. It can be an “Oh no, I do not know what to wear today” or an “Oh no! I
got my girlfriend pregnant!” Obviously, you cannot compare those two
situations, but in both you experience stress.
Stress is known as the silent
killer. It causes all types of health problems, such as high blood pressure,
heart disease, obesity, and diabetes. Living in a fast-paced city such as New
York can keep your body under endless stress. Having to run to catch the train
and almost missing it regularly can be frustrating. Walking on the streets and
constantly having tourist stop in front of you to take pictures can be
annoying. All of these little things can add up and take a toll on your body.
There is a whole process that occurs in the body when you feel stressed. This
process is the result of the Sympathetic Nervous System. This system is
responsible for the so-called “fight-or-flight” response. This reaction happens
when you have a life or death situation, like almost getting hit by a car. The
butterflies in your stomach, the knot in your throat, the heart beating fast
and the rush of adrenaline are all caused by the Sympathetic Nervous system.
Our bodies are hard-wired to react to stress in a certain way to protect us
against threats from wild predators and other aggressors, but those risks are
rare in these modern times. We still have stress, but our bodies do not
recognize the difference between homework stress and the stress from running
from a bear; our bodies react the same way regardless.
The Sympathetic Nervous system
prepares the body for intense, energy consuming activities and induces our
adrenal glands to secrete the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine.
Cortisol, an important hormone, also gets secreted during this process. Cortisol
in this context plays the role of an enemy because it is the reason why we have
so many health problems due to stress. When we continuously experience stress,
our body secretes this hormone into our blood stream. When it reaches high
levels, it can interfere with our learning and memory. It can lower our immune
function and bone density; increase weight gain, cholesterol, blood pressure
and cause heart disease.
A research study was conducted on
stress amongst doctors, and the results were alarming. Approximately one-third
of physicians’ report experiencing a burnout at any given point. Doctors are
fifteen times more likely to burn out than professionals in any other type of
work, and 45% of primary care physicians report that they would quit practicing
if they had a choice. Physicians have 10-20 % higher divorce rate than the
general population, and sadly there are about three hundred to four hundred
physician suicide deaths each year.
There is no doubt that medical
professionals and students deal with much stress, and this stress is,
unfortunately, just part of the lifestyle. My curiosity about stress lead me to
find some useful tips on how to better cope with it for my fellow students and
medical professionals alike, and for anyone who needs help dealing with stress
in general. First of all, specifically for students, I believe that a slow and
steady approach to studying wins the race. By doing a little work every day, it
eliminates the stress of cramming and leaves you feeling better prepared. It will also help the library look a little
less like an insane asylum during finals week. Another vital tip that anyone
can adhere to is to take care of yourself/do not overextend yourself: exercise
regularly/eat right, get enough sleep, and take the time to play and have fun.
It is also important for your mental health to maintain friendships and support
systems; you can lean on these people during those stressful moments. Lastly,
keep a sense of optimism and sense of humor; it helps makes things a little easier.
I still have a chemistry final to study for, but I’m not too worried; this test
is nothing compared to the financial debt I will acquire once I am done with
medical school. (See, a sense of humor)
Written by Marco
Vinicio Pacheco
Edited by the Team at
Happy Feet.
Cox. E. (2016, April
12). Doctor Burnout, Stress and Depression: Not an Easy Fix. Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/patient-advice/articles/2016-04-12/doctor-burnout-stress-and-depression-not-an-easy-fix
Bergland. C. (2013,
January 22). Cortisol: Why “The stress hormone” Is public enemy No.1”.
Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201301/cortisol-why-the-stress-hormone-is-public-enemy-no-1
N.A. (2016, April 21).
Chronic stress puts your health at risk. Retrieved from http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037
“Sympathetic Nervous
System.” (2015). In Campbell, N.A., Reece, J.B., Taylor, M.R., Simon, E.J.,
& Dickey, J. L. (2015). Biology: Concepts & Connections (8th ed.). San
Francisco, CA: Pearson Education, Inc.