Lorena de Castillo
Definition
Stress is a psychological or emotional tension that alters the human organism. It arises in response to a situation that goes beyond the context of one’s usual activities.
Reactions and emotions present differently in each person. A situation that can cause joy or a mild challenge for some may elicit frustration and fear in others. During such times stress is notices as there is a sense of threat to the well-being of the individual.
Prevention
A high percentage of cancers can be prevented by avoiding risk factors. Some recommendations for preventing cancer are;
• eat healthy food
• reduce the consumption of alcohol
• avoid smoking or chewing tobacco
• maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly
• reduce your exposure to the Sun
Also it is possible to prevent some types of cancer by taking periodic mammograms, colonoscopies and etc.
Treatment
Each type of cancer needs a specific treatment, this according to the type of tumor and the State in which the disease is located.
People with cancer often receive a combination of treatments that may include: surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, targeted therapy, hormonal therapy and stem cell transplantation.
Diagnosis
To arrive at a diagnosis of cancer the doctor will review the personal background and family physicians, perform a physical exam and will order lab tests, studies, images, scans and other tests deemed necessary, according to the clinical picture of each patient.
In many cases one will order a biopsy procedure that removes a sample of tissue that is examined under a microscope by a pathologist to determine if there are cancerous cells.
Symptoms
The symptoms of cancer depend on the location where the tumor is located, its size and condition in which the disease is. Some cancers are asymptomatic, i.e. they do not produce symptoms until the tumor has grown enough and the disease is already in an advanced stage.
Some general symptoms that may occur due to cancer include: fever, extreme tiredness, pain, weight loss, changes in the skin.
Causes
Cancer occurs when the cells begin to grow out of control. Although the cause of many cancers is unknown, it is known that a small group is due to genetic predisposition.
Most cancers are attributed to substances or external agents called carcinogens, these include:
1) Physical carcinogens such as ultraviolet radiation and X rays.
2) Chemical carcinogens which are related to industrial activities among them: asbestos, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, mercury and lead.
3) Biological carcinogens such as infections caused by certain viruses and bacteria or parasites.
Definition
Cancer includes a group of diseases characterized by the development of abnormal cells that divide and grow out of control in any part of the body.
According to the place where it starts, cancers can be classified into: carcinomas and sarcomas, leukemia’s, lymphomas and myelomas.
Some cancers are formed by masses of tissue turning it into solid tumors, while blood cancers such as leukemia’s do not form solid tumors.
When cancer spreads from where it started to other parts of the body this is known as metastasis.
Work Stress, a Dangerous Disease
Occupational stress is not new, studies indicate that the recent trends have made it increasingly difficult for employees to adequately balance the responsibility of their jobs and their families as employees are working longer hours and bringing more work at night.
Experts agree that work stress is a set of physical and mental reactions that an employee suffers when subjected to external factors. These reactions can be physiological, cognitive, behavioral or emotional, and they are usually accompanied by physical or mental exhaustion, anguish and feelings of impotence or frustration at the inability of the individual to cope with the situations that generate that stress.
The causes of this type of stress can be an excess of workload, also by the high level of responsibility that tests the worker and by bad relations in the work environment. These three causes alone are detrimental, but can sometimes combine and cause much more serious health damage.
There are 2 types of work stress:
1. EUSTRESS: This is the positive version of work stress, because when it appears it prepares the body to face situations of great pressure and responsibility. Its main function is to protect the body from all the threats that the work stress can provoke, achieving a balance and giving rise to some point to pleasurable sensations.
2. DISTRESS: This kind of stress can be identified because it reduces the capacity for attention, decision and action, modifying our mood and interpersonal relationships. This is the negative version of work stress, is given in response to excessive workload and is where we often see serious health symptoms. Workplace stress is bound to be the new epidemic of the 21st century.
In conclusion, work stress is not something that should be taken lightly for us in Kenya, it is really a disease to which attention must be paid and take action to be able to control it. It is true that we are all exposed to suffering it but we all have the ability to cope it. Consult an expert on the subject and put into practice some of the exercises that exist to achieve a balance.
