The English actor Kate Beckinsale recently lost her stepfather. She experienced such intense grief at the loss that it “burned a hole” in her oesophagus, causing her to “vomit copious amounts of blood”. Beckinsale spent six weeks in hospital recovering.
People often speak about the emotional toll of grief and stress, but often less is said about the effects it can have on other parts of the body. Is it true that grief can cause such profound physical symptoms as vomiting blood? Perhaps. What we do know is that stress is linked to many other conditions that affect almost every system in the body.
Beckinsale was possibly suffering from peptic ulceration. This condition is mainly caused by the bacterium H pylori . But some research suggests stress shouldn’t be overlooked as a potential cause.
Early observations from Dr Burrill Crohn (of Crohn’s disease fame) described stress ulcers in patients who had undergone a form of severe psychological trauma. Observational studies have since linked stress with peptic ulcers , while others have shown an association between anxiety and depression with the condition. Another study found a link between peptic ulcers and negative life experiences – such as divorce or widowhood .
But ulcers aren’t the only health condition thought to be triggered by stress. Defining stress Stress can broadly be divided into two main forms : physiological and psychological. Physiological stressors test our body’s physical ability to function.
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