29. Are Doctors Misinformed About Stress? w/ Michael Romero

Is the stress associated with being busy harming our health? If so, why are so many people stressed out by doing less during the pandemic? Stress is confusing because the concept is built on a questionable foundation. Tobacco companies paid researchers to show that a big rise in heart disease in the mid 20th century was caused by stress. But that was deceptive - the rise was caused by smoking. 

I talk to biologist Michael Romero of Tufts University, who has helped create a more coherent picture of stress and health by looking at the kinds of stress that do physical harm across species. Scientists trying to understand stress have gone so far as to use dogs on boats to sniff out whale poop, which can be tested for stress hormones. That research has shown, among other things, that noise and pollution are causing chronic stress among whales. 

“Follow the Science" is produced, written, and hosted by Faye Flam, with funding by the Society for Professional Journalists. Today’s episode was edited by Seth Gliksman with music by Kyle Imperatore. If you’d like to hear more "Follow the Science," please like, follow, and subscribe!