Background
Stress is an integral part of the human existence. Stress affects human development and shapes humanity. Stress helps to win competitions and accounts for loses and disasters. Physiological and psychological stressors are everywhere: academic exams, caregiving, bereavement, job loss, sports competitions, emergency and military services, space flight, and many other situations we may not even be aware of. Stress is a significant contributor to many illnesses, and can be a double-edged sword in that impaired health may negatively affect the stress response, further exacerbating pathology and worsening outcomes. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was a stressor felt by the entire world. It tested human civilization scientifically, socioeconomically, and politically. Today, it keeps testing us again and again.
Our individual and societal reaction to this stressor will represent a distinct period in history in which stress and stress management are at the forefront worldwide.
Traditionally, we associate stress with its negative aspect – distress – and often forget about its benefit – eustress, such as the joy of seeing your baby for the first time, a long-anticipated graduation or promotion, or striving to meet a challenging goal. Eustress may be critical for resilience, cognitive flexibility and personal growth.
Goal
The goal of this special Research Topic is to call for the submission of original research, case reports and reviews on the role of stress in the development and decline of all aspects of human physiology, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, pregnancy, neoplasms, PTSD, and many others. We hope the published work will aid in the advancement of an integrated approach to better understanding underlying mechanisms of the stress response as well as developing better countermeasures to prevent or treat poorer outcomes of distress and perhaps amplify the constrictive nature of eustress.
Scope and Information for Authors
The scope of this issue is aimed at research that clearly demonstrates the role of the stress response in the development and exacerbation of disorders and conditions, and/or bidirectional relationships between illness and maladaptive stress, including (but not limited to):
1. Cardiovascular diseases
2. Neurodegenerative disorders
3. Cancers
4. Pregnancy and post-partum complications
5. Post-traumatic adaptation among both military as well as (post-disaster) civilian adults and children.
6. Psychosocial stress physiology
This Research Topic will follow all rules of the Integrative Physiology Section and, thus, papers that address a multidisciplinary approach are encouraged.
Topic Editor Raymond P. Stowe is CEO & Laboratory Director of Microgen Laboratories (La Marque, TX 77568, USA). All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
Background
Stress is an integral part of the human existence. Stress affects human development and shapes humanity. Stress helps to win competitions and accounts for loses and disasters. Physiological and psychological stressors are everywhere: academic exams, caregiving, bereavement, job loss, sports competitions, emergency and military services, space flight, and many other situations we may not even be aware of. Stress is a significant contributor to many illnesses, and can be a double-edged sword in that impaired health may negatively affect the stress response, further exacerbating pathology and worsening outcomes. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic was a stressor felt by the entire world. It tested human civilization scientifically, socioeconomically, and politically. Today, it keeps testing us again and again.
Our individual and societal reaction to this stressor will represent a distinct period in history in which stress and stress management are at the forefront worldwide.
Traditionally, we associate stress with its negative aspect – distress – and often forget about its benefit – eustress, such as the joy of seeing your baby for the first time, a long-anticipated graduation or promotion, or striving to meet a challenging goal. Eustress may be critical for resilience, cognitive flexibility and personal growth.
Goal
The goal of this special Research Topic is to call for the submission of original research, case reports and reviews on the role of stress in the development and decline of all aspects of human physiology, including cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, pregnancy, neoplasms, PTSD, and many others. We hope the published work will aid in the advancement of an integrated approach to better understanding underlying mechanisms of the stress response as well as developing better countermeasures to prevent or treat poorer outcomes of distress and perhaps amplify the constrictive nature of eustress.
Scope and Information for Authors
The scope of this issue is aimed at research that clearly demonstrates the role of the stress response in the development and exacerbation of disorders and conditions, and/or bidirectional relationships between illness and maladaptive stress, including (but not limited to):
1. Cardiovascular diseases
2. Neurodegenerative disorders
3. Cancers
4. Pregnancy and post-partum complications
5. Post-traumatic adaptation among both military as well as (post-disaster) civilian adults and children.
6. Psychosocial stress physiology
This Research Topic will follow all rules of the Integrative Physiology Section and, thus, papers that address a multidisciplinary approach are encouraged.
Topic Editor Raymond P. Stowe is CEO & Laboratory Director of Microgen Laboratories (La Marque, TX 77568, USA). All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.
