Critique Of Stress

Critique of “How Stress Can Be a Very Good Thing” The article “How Stress Can Be a Very Good Thing” by John Whyte describes the advantages of stress. Whyte argues that stress “can have numerous benefits for the body and mind” through numerous ways (Whyte 1). One of these ways is the release of stress hormones that strengthens the memory and alertness in times of stress. Another advantage of stress is a small amount of stress hormones can support the immune system in fighting disease. Whyte’s article also says that a lack of stress in a workplace can lead to a decline in the worker’s performance, and stress can drive people to live their lives to their fullest. John Whyte’s “How Stress Can Be a Very Good Thing” declares that stress should be advantage of and is even needed to live a contented life (Whyte 1-2). However, stress is detrimental to the brain, body, and a person’s work; and in the absence of stress people are able to relax and appreciate life. Stress is unfavorable for the brain and mental capabilities. It can damage the hippocampus by shrinking it. The hippocampus is the portion of the brain that directs emotions and memories (Benson 1). Altering this segment of the brain can cause mental illnesses such as …show more content…
According to Dr. Angela Willis, “stress is a huge health problem” and “75 percent to 90 percent of all primary-care doctor visits are for stress-related problems” (Pinto 1). Companies report that health care costs are 46% higher for employees with higher stress levels than other employees (Snyder 1). Stress can cause the body to release an avalanche of hormones. Usually, these hormones are used in everyday bodily functions, but too much of these hormones leads to the body forming illnesses. These illnesses can form in countless ways “from chronic diarrhea to hives” says Dr. Willis (Pinto 1). As stress causes these illnesses, it affects a person’s everyday