CHENNAI : Some amount of stress is good for human body, but too much could lead to disastrous consequences, according to doctors.

Stress plays a crucial role in the flow of enzymes from the various glands. Some glands in the body are activated during stressful events. While the body adapts to such changes, a prolonged onslaught of stress exhausts it and destroys its equilibrium, they say.

"Speed [fast-paced lifestyle], marriage, inability to move on, divorce, giving birth, changing home and promotion can cause stress. Whereas, motivation, creative freedom and the love to learn and accept challenges, laughter and healthy food are stress busters," says Vijay Shankar, chairman, Madras Management Association's Health Care Forum. "Stress squeezes the brain ... but, the human body has its own mechanism to beat it [stress]," neurologist Prithika Chari told participants at a seminar on Saturday. At least five information technology professionals come to her every day with complaints of stress-related problems.

She blames it on globalisation. "It [globalisation] has its positive aspects, but it has also exposed people to new cultures and health problems. The 24/7 lifestyle with `work hard, play hard and party hard' as its catchphrase is robbing young people's health, Dr. Chari said.

Stressful events activate the three glands - hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal. "Stress hits the brain and then sets off a cascade of events that reflect in our weakened immune system." She terms it psycho-neuro-immunology. In the 1890s, infectious diseases were the bane of the society. A century later, it was heart and lung diseases, cancer, stroke, and speed. Since 1999, trauma and diabetes are also reasons for more deaths, she added.

Psychotherapist Vijay Nagaswami sees a link between the rising stress level and the new family equations. The joint family served as a social support system and was a good way to learn about managing people. Since there were people around for those facing stress to seek advice, it helped. Doctors agree that laughter adds spice to life. They lay emphasis on healthy eating habits and advice against smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

Though doctor's prescriptions help, experience can be a good teacher. Sharing his experience, MMA president C.K. Ranganathan said when his daughter fared poorly in an examination, he cajoled her into facing the bugbear. After half a day's struggle, she was over the worst and did well in the next exam, he said. The experience helped when she confronted a similar situation a few years later, he pointed out.

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