Why prolonged stress is harmful and how it triggers tumor formation

The fact that prolonged stress is not just harmful to the body, but is one of the main causes of cancer has long been known. But how exactly does it trigger the process of tumor formation? The answer is given in an article published in the journal Cancer Cell scientists of the laboratory "Cold Spring Harbor" in New York.

Recall that science has already figured out how the stress mechanism works. It was developed over centuries of evolution, helping our distant ancestors to survive, to protect themselves from threats when meeting with predators and enemies. Stress triggers systems that trigger a surge of hormones. Adrenaline makes the heart beat faster, raises blood pressure and gives you more energy. Cortisol raises blood sugar levels and increases the availability of tissue-repairing substances in the body.

When the threat is past, hormones return to normal levels. But if the "hit or run" response remains on, hormones, and primarily cortisol, continue to pound virtually every organ, leading to a variety of diseases, including cancer.

But how exactly does this happen? American scientists searched for the answer by studying patients with oncology. In the course of research, doctors managed to find out how prolonged stress triggers the mechanism of metastasis formation. It turned out that it causes certain white blood cells - neutrophils - to form sticky, web-like structures. These are what make body tissues susceptible to forming metastases.

This research may uncover previously unknown cancer treatment strategies that stop tumors from developing in the body.