Physical Health Risks Associated with Aftermath of Disaster: Basic Paths of Influence and their Implications for Preventative Intervention

A review of empirical evidence reveals that victims of natural disasters have poorer health, longer illnesses, & greater morbidity & mortality than the general population. This link between disaster & impaired physical health is attributed to the effects of stress on immune function & psychophysiological reactivity. It is suggested that these effects may be mitigated by such interventions as relaxation techniques & aerobic exercise. While these interventions will probably not directly alleviate disaster-related internal stress, they can reduce affective/physiological reactions to that stress. The debriefing session provides a good opportunity to teach relaxation as a coping strategy & recommend properly supervised exercise. 125 References. Adapted from the source document.