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By Katie Fultz, PA-C and James Davidson, MD
Blanchard Valley Orthopedics & Sports Medicine

Medical testing and procedures can sometimes present a challenge both physically and mentally for a patient and their caregivers. Understanding those types of stressors and having tools to help manage them can help patients have a more positive experience. Eustress is positive stress that represents positive challenges and positive changes. Distress is negative stress that can come from negative or difficult challenges. 

Medical testing and procedures can bring both stressors as well as other feelings such as anxiety, depression, fear, worry, accomplishment and relief. When these challenges are present in patients’ and caregivers’ lives for a certain period of time, they can manifest into physical symptoms such as headaches, disturbed sleep, gastrointestinal upset, increased blood pressure, chest pain and increased postoperative pain, to name a few. 

Without stress management tools and coping mechanisms, patients can turn to unhealthy ways to manage that stress such as inappropriate use of prescribed drugs, use of illegal drugs, increased use of alcohol and smoking.

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