How does stress change a cell?

Stress can change a cell in various ways. First, the cell’s internal environment begins to change to cope with the new environment. The signal from the external environment initiates protective measures to be taken within the cell to protect itself from the oncoming stress. If a cell cannot effectively protect itself, stress can alter the normal function of cells and tissues. Stress can also stunt the growth and reproduction of an organism. Additionally, cellular stress and the cell’s inability to manage stress is a major cause for many diseases such as Alzheimer’s and cancer.