Final answer:
Both psychosomatic diseases and somatoform disorders are related to stress, affecting physical health by either exacerbating real medical symptoms or producing physical symptoms without a diagnosable condition. Stress is known to contribute to various physical and psychological conditions, highlighting the significant role it plays in health.
Step-by-step explanation:
Psychosomatic Diseases and Somatoform Disorders
Psychosomatic diseases are physical disorders or diseases whose symptoms are brought about or worsened by stress and emotional factors. This means that the physical symptoms are real but can be produced or exacerbated by psychological factors. Stress can lead to the development of certain psychological disorders, as well as contribute to a variety of physical illnesses and diseases, including cardiovascular disorders and asthma.
Somatoform disorders, on the other hand, are characterized by complaints of physical symptoms that suggest a medical condition, but no actual physical disorders are found by a doctor. In somatoform disorders, stress and psychological factors are also involved, typically leading to the expression of physical symptoms without the presence of a diagnosable physical condition. Both psychosomatic and somatoform disorders are thus related to stress.
In conclusion, the relationship between stress and these types of disorders is evident, and managing stress is a key aspect of treatment and prevention for both. The immune system is one of the pathways in which stress can lead to illness, as chronic stress can suppress immune function, leading to higher susceptibility to illness and other health issues.