Citation

Vinker S, Shifman-Poran C, Kitai E. Harefuah 2006; 145(9): 639-42, 704.

Affiliation

Department of Family Medicine, Central District, Clalit Health Services. vinker01@zahav.net.il

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Israel Medical Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17078421

Abstract

Over the past few years more than a thousand Israeli civilians were murdered and thousands were wounded in recurrent terrorist attacks. Many others had been exposed to the terrorists' attacks, either directly or indirectly. However, the impact of the terror on physical illness had not yet been explored. Stress may cause diseases like hypertension or ischemic heart diseases and may exaggerate asthma, inflammatory bowel diseases and others; this is in addition to posttraumatic disorders, depression and anxiety. This article reviews the influence of stress, and especially conflicts, on chronic physical illness and aims to encourage further research on this subject in Israel.

Language: he