Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
Stress
and
health
Mental health is often considered trivial.In fact, psychological stress that is left for a long time can disrupt the body’s functioning and trigger the emergence of cancer cells.
This was explained by Internal Medicine Doctor, Consultant Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Indonesia, Ari Fahrial Syam.
According to Ari, every person actually has the potential for cancer cells in the body.These cells are normally in a ‘sleeping’ state.However, stress can be a trigger that makes these cells active and grow.
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“Stress should not be considered simple. The cells in the body have the potential for cancer. When stressed, the cells can become cancerous. This has been proven by studies on this matter,” said Ari at the 2025 Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease Awareness Week held by the Indonesian Gastroenterology Foundation together with Takeda which was held online in Jakarta, Tuesday (9/12).
He gave an example of how someone who looked healthy and calm was suddenly diagnosed with cancer after facing heavy pressure, such as family or work problems.
“Sometimes we see that he is fine, but when he has serious problems, he gets cancer,” he said.
Ari explained that stress has a complex mechanism that involves the relationship between the brain and the digestive system, which is known as the brain-gut axis.Emotional disorders such as anxiety can increase stomach acid production, cause inflammation, and trigger other health problems.
“If the brain is not in order, it can disrupt the intestines. Anxiety, for example, can cause stomach acid to increase. Inflammation is also related to problems in the brain,” he said.
This condition shows that stress is not just a matter of feelings, but can disrupt vital organs, including triggering processes that allow cancer cells to develop.
However, Ari also reminded that stress is not the only cause of cancer.There are genetic factors, eating habits and lifestyle that also contribute to causing cancer cells in the body to develop.It’s just that stress is a factor that is often ignored, even though it has a significant role.
“We can see that people who have cancer have the potential for stress. Those who have had cancer can become stressed again. There is a component due to the stress factor,” he said.
In many cases, unmanaged stress can also trigger psychosomatic conditions, including heart attacks and strokes.
“When someone is angry or too ‘excited’, the heart works faster. Ultimately it could lead to a stroke. Because in reality, if we are too tense, blood pressure can rise,” explained Ari.
Therefore, managing stress is an important key to maintaining mental and physical health.Stress management strategies such as getting enough sleep, exercise, relaxation techniques, and consulting with a psychologist can help keep the body in balance.
“If stress is ignored, its impacts can be multi-layered, ranging from digestive disorders, chronic diseases, to triggering the activation of cancer cells. Managing stress is not just an option, but an important requirement to maintain overall health,” he said.
(tis/tis)
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