Stress, Coping, and the Treatment of Stress-Related Illness

Abstract

Disease patterns in Western countries have shifted dramatically in the last century. In 1900, the leading causes of death tended to be infectious diseases; however, by mid-century they had become chronic diseases. For example, in 1968, the likelihood of dying from an infectious disease was one-sixth what it was in 1900, but the death rate from heart disease had increased by 268%. Current predictions indicate that over 80% of the male children born this year will eventually die of chronic diseases (Glazier, 1973). Moreover, chronic diseases are on the increase among the young as well as the old (Erhardt & Berlin, 1974; National Center for Health Statistics, 1977).

One’s lifestyle, including patterns of eating, exercise, drinking, coping with stress, and use of tobacco and drugs, together with environmental hazards, are the major known modifiable causes of illness in America today. Medical care, on which we spend so much has, in comparison, only a weak effect on health. (Haggerty, 1977)

Men as a rule find it easier to depend on healers than to attempt the more difficult task of living wisely. (Dubos, 1961)

Support for the preparation of this chapter and some of the research reported here were provided by a grant from the Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.