EMOTIONS, STRESS, SMOKING, DRINKING, AND CANCER - CORRELATIVE AND CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS

Correlative and causal relationships are discussed between emotions, s tress, smoking, drinking, and cancer. The following conclusions have b een drawn. Emotions control the physiological stress reactions: the ne gative emotions initiate and maintain stress, and positive emotions st op it. A dissatisfied need provokes the development of the state of em otional stress. There are two types of emotional stress states: the ac tive stress which is directed to ''overcoming'' and the passive state of ''waiting till the stress is over Individuals differ in emotionalit y, stress reactivity, and inclination to the active and passive emotio nal stress. The passive emotional stress increases the probability of cancer. This effect is caused by the development of the hormonal and n eurotransmitter state, which provokes immunosuppression, DNA damage, a nd stimulation of hemopoiesis. Smoking and drinking are the ways of mo difying the psychoemotional state. These habits as well as development of cancer are the effects of the same cause - stress. Thus, cases of correlation between smoking and drinking do not reflect the causal rel ationships. Only intensive smoking and drinking which lead to tissue d amage can increase the incidence of cancer.