The Stress Syndrome

The “stress” or “general adaptation” syndrome? developed by Dr. Selye, is note an important and fundamental concept in medical theory and underlies much of the research being carried on in such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, hypertension, and cardiac necrosis. In essence, the stress concept postulates that the body responds to stress of any kind with a unified defense mechanism characterized by specific structural and chemical changes. This reaction can raise the resistance to stressful agents and can also be used to protect against disease. But, when the reaction is faulty or overly prolonged, is can also produce disease.