Hans Selye

While researching the effects of depression and stress on the heart, I thought about Dr. Hans Selye with his pioneering research on stress and distress. Dr. Selye was born in Europe and achieved his Doctor of Medicine and Chemistry in Prague. During his illustrious career , he was  affiliated with Johns Hopkins University, McGill University and the University of Montréal.

Dr. Selye believed that stress was an everyday experience. He hypothesized that the body responded in a stereotyped manner with identical biological changes to stressors. Stressors include heat, cold, lifting rocks, running 50 K’s, going without food, having sex, working etc. Regardless of the stressors, the biological changes are characterized by enlargement and hyperactivity of the adrenal cortex, shrinkage or atrophy of the thymus gland and lymph nodes, along with the appearance of gastrointestinal ulcers. Adding to the ideas of Walter B. Cannon, the organism physiologically was often in a state of homeostasis. With stress, the body is no longer in homeostasis but adapts, adjusts and attempts to regain homeostasis.

Selye established a model referred to as the General Adaptation Syndrome [GAS] that took into account the body’s organ changes caused by cold, heat, infection, trauma, hemorrhage, nervous irritation etc. There are three stages in Selye’s GAS model. Stage 1. The alarm reaction in which the body shows the changes characteristic of its first exposure to a stressor.  Hormones cortisol, epinephrine and norepinephrine are produced along with the fight or flight response. Stage 2. Resistance occurs as a result of continued exposure to a stressor and is compatible with adaptation. Stage 3.  Exhaustion follows as a result of too long of a continuous exposure to the same stressor to which the body became adjusted. Eventually adaptation energy is exhausted. Signs of the alarm reaction or distress occurs but now it’s too late, irreversible and can lead to death.

Dr. Selye suggested that there was superficial, deep, adaption and finite energy. In other words, stressors can be withstood [resistance] for just so long because the body subsequently reaches an exhaustion state. He also believed that a stressor does damage over time and leaves its chemical scar. As a result of accidental conditioning, various body parts such as heart, kidney, brain, gastrointestinal tract can become affected. Eventually, the weakest body link breaks down first. With the breakdown, the body goes in and out of homeostasis but the adaptation process leaves an indelible mark over one’s lifetime.

Dr. Selye stated there was a close association between work, stress and aging. He stated that aging results from the sum of all the stresses to which the body had been exposed during lifetime. With aging, there are irreversible scars that accumulate as evidenced by tissue damage, and the loss of elasticity of connective tissues. However, as far as endurance was concerned, the body’s   superficial energy can be replenished after rest or with some activity diversion. In the end, the body breaks down to the stage of exhaustion or death.

According to this pioneer, distress affects the body, brain, heart, liver etc. throughout our lives. One way to reduce the lifetime of chemical scars, is to minimize stress in our lives. Selye identified notables such as Pablo Casals, Winston Churchill, Haile Selassie, Albert Schweitzer and numerous others who   enjoyed their creative working pursuits. Simply put, find work that you enjoy and that allows you to be successful. To combat the physical decay of senility, Selye either swam or rode his bicycle for an hour, every day at 5 AM.

PS

I found in the April 15, 2019 edition of Time “Listening to uplifting dance music may help you get over a cold. The 2008 study by researchers in Germany said 50 minutes of the music cut volunteers levels of the stress hormone cortisol and boosted antibodies.” Further, I received in the mail a continuing education class titled “Mindfulness and Stress Reduction.”