... but research has shown that while stress does play a small role in stomach ulcers they are by no means caused by it.
In the past it was believed that stomach ulcers were caused by excess stomach acid eating into the lining of the stomach, and this was in turn believed to have been the effects of high levels of stress.
To remedy this problem companies, through their Employee Assistant Programmes, encouraged staff to reduce their stress levels, alter their diets and take acid reducing medication.
Now, however, we are much more informed, and researchers have found that there are two main causes of stomach ulcers - neither of which is stress.
The first is through infection caused by H. pylori (Helicobacter Pylori) bacteria and the second is through the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Ibuprofen).
It was found, once the actual cause had been identified, that stomach ulcers could be cured within two weeks of taking antibiotics - and nothing to do with stress reduction or a change in diet.
Stress does, however, have a small part to play in all of this.
What stress does do is reduce your immune system's ability to fight off threats to your health and increases the production of IL-6 (interleukin-6), a damaging chemical in the blood.
As your immune system is weakened it becomes possible for bacteria like H. pylori to eat away at your stomach lining, but this could be avoided entirely by ensuring the H. pylori bacteria is never within your system.
So all stress really does is weaken your immune system, and it is not the root of the problem as doctors for years believed.
Stress as a potential danger to your body should not be underestimated, though, as it can lead to heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, and even (just like excessive smoking, drinking, standing in the sun or talking on your cell phone) some kinds of cancer.