LONDON: Researchers have warned about the harmful effects of chronic stress on health, linking it to an increased risk of cancer spread, heart disease, and stroke.
While it’s common to experience short bursts of stress in daily life, prolonged and persistent stress can significantly impact one’s well-being, leading to serious health complications, scientists said.
Several studies have highlighted the association between chronic stress and cardiovascular diseases. A 2017 study published in The Lancet revealed a correlation between stress and cardiovascular disease episodes, while another study in 2022 found that major stressful life events could elevate the risk of a first stroke by 17 percent.
Although there is no direct evidence linking stress to cancer risk, researchers caution that stress can indirectly affect health by impeding healthy behaviors and potentially exacerbating risk factors associated with cancer.
Relationship Between Chronic Stress and Cancer Spread
Now, groundbreaking research highlighted the complex relationship between stress and cancer progression. Scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) have uncovered mechanisms by which stress can enhance cancer metastasis, the spread of cancer cells from their original site to other parts of the body.
The study, led by former postdoc Xue-Yan He and adjunct professor Mikala Egeblad, focused on the role of white blood cells called neutrophils in cancer spread under chronic stress conditions. The researchers discovered that stress triggers the formation of sticky web-like structures, known as neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), by neutrophils.
These NETs create a favorable environment for cancer metastasis, making body tissues more susceptible to the spread of cancer cells. The study, conducted on mice, revealed a significant increase in metastatic lesions in mice exposed to chronic stress, compared to those without stress exposure.
Dr. He emphasized the importance of understanding how stress affects cancer patients, highlighting the need for novel treatment strategies to counteract cancer spread in the presence of chronic stress.
