4/29/2020 E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly Laurel, in his Memorandum,[32] aptly explained how stress can lead to a thyroid condition, to quote: ‘It’s important to understand that our bodies weren’t designed to handle chronic stress. The adrenal glands were designed to handle acute stress situations without much of a problem. But in today’s world most people are overwhelmed with stressful situations, as they have stressful jobs, stressful relationships, financial issues, and many issues that lead to chronic stress. Since the adrenal glands weren’t designed to handle chronic stress situations, what happens is that for a person who deals with a lot of stress AND does a poor job of managing it, over a period of months and years their adrenal glands will weaken, which can eventually lead to adrenal fatigue. But even before these glands reach this point, this can create other problems, including dysfunction of the thyroid gland. The way that stressed out adrenals can cause thyroid malfunction is the following: when the adrenal glands are stressed out, it puts the body in a state of catabolism, which means that the body is breaking down. Because of this, the body will slow down the thyroid gland as a protective mechanism. The reason behind this is because the thyroid gland controls the metabolism of the body, and so the body slows it down in order to slow down the catabolic process. This is why many times the thyroid gland won’t respond to treatment until you address the adrenal glands. If the adrenal glands are not addressed, this can affect other bodily systems. For example, someone with weak adrenal glands who has a thyroid disorder can develop a compromised immune system. This eventually can lead to an autoimmune thyroid disorder, such as Graves’ Disease or Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.’[33] [Emphasis and underscoring in the original] In sum, chronic stress can cause a lot of different problems, and if not managed, it can ultimately lead to a thyroid condition. Of course, this does not mean that all thyroid conditions are caused by stress, but there is no question that stress is a culprit in many thyroid disorders.[34] Given the foregoing, although Graves’ Disease is attributed to genetic influence, the Court finds a reasonable work connection between Laurel’s condition at work as pastryman (cook) and the development of his hyperthyroidism. His constant exposure to hazards such as chemicals and the varying temperature, like the heat in the kitchen of the vessel and the coldness outside, coupled by stressful tasks in his employment caused, or at least aggravated, his illness. It is already recognized that any kind of work or labor produces stress and strain normally resulting in wear and tear of the human body.[35] Thus, the Court sustains the finding of the CA that: Stressful conditions in the environment, in a word, can result in hyperthyroidism, and the employment conditions of a seafarer on board an elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/55780 8/15