Stress may cause everything from stomachaches and rashes to restless nights and missed periods.
Some people experience tension as though their heart is going to burst out of their chest. Some may feel a rash on their skin as a result of stress, or they may see their hair coming out more than normal.
Stress is a natural part of life, but it isn’t necessarily a terrible thing. It might sometimes provide the incentive you need to meet a deadline or perform well. Unmanaged or sustained stress, on the other hand, may wreak havoc on your body, causing unanticipated aches, pains, and other symptoms.
Richard Lang, MD, MPH, of internal medicine, and psychiatrist Susan Albers, PsyD, of psychology, discuss how our mental stresses impact our biological functioning.
Chronic stress vs. daily stresses
While it may appear that stress is only affecting your mind, it is also affecting the rest of your body. “Stress may not always cause certain disorders, but it might exacerbate their symptoms,” explains Dr. Lang. “As physical symptoms intensify, they may increase a person’s stress level, creating a vicious cycle.”
Dr. Albers says that stress may have an immediate and long-term impact on us.
Everyday stresses. Many of us are subjected to daily stresses. Maybe you missed the bus to work, forgot to pay your gas payment, or are looking forward to a supper with friends. “What occurs in the body is that our muscles contract, our heart beats quicker, and more oxygen rushes to our lungs to assist prepare for the stressor,” Dr. Albers adds. “The good news is that stresses are frequently mild. “After the stressor has passed, our body returns to its usual resting state.”
Stress that is ongoing. Long-term stress can be induced by the same everyday stresses, but the difference is that they stay persistent and tend to pile up over time. “Chronic stresses include things like financial problems and disagreements with family members. “These recurring concerns can have long-term and severe consequences for your emotional and physical health,” she explains.
Chronic stress, also known as long-term stress, can cause everything from weight gain to poor sleep and digestive problems.
“Your body becomes locked in overdrive during the fight or flight reaction and is unable to return to normal. As a result, your body is constantly overwhelmed with cortisol,” Dr. Albers adds. “This generates inflammation, and inflammation renders you susceptible to chronic illness.”
What effects does stress have on your body?
Stress may do funny things to your body, impacting it in a variety of ways. Here are some of the ways stress may damage your body:
1. Joints and muscles
Pain, stiffness, or soreness in your muscles, as well as pain spasms, can all be caused by stress. Because stress decreases your pain threshold, it can induce flare-ups of arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other illnesses.
When you are stressed, your muscles stiffen up, according to the American Psychological Association (APA). When that stress is relieved, your muscles relax.
2. The heart and the lungs
Stress, believe it or not, may have an effect on your heart. A stressful circumstance, such as trying to fulfill a job deadline, might cause your heart rate to rise. Moreover, excessive levels of the stress hormone cortisol may aggravate heart and lung diseases such as heart disease, irregular cardiac rhythms, high blood pressure, stroke, and asthma. Stress, in addition to lung diseases, can induce shortness of breath and fast breathing.
If you feel chest discomfort, tightness, or palpitations, consult a doctor as soon as possible to rule out a severe problem.
3. Hair and skin
Stress has an impact on your skin and hair as well. If you have a skin problem such as eczema, rosacea, or psoriasis, stress might aggravate it. It can also cause hives and itching, as well as excessive perspiration and hair loss.
4. Gut
Have you ever suffered a stomachache as a result of being stressed? Stress has a substantial influence on your digestive tract, causing everything from simple symptoms like discomfort, gas, diarrhea, and constipation to more complicated diseases like irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux (GERD).
When you are anxious, you may eat more or less, which can lead to an unhealthy diet. If the tension is extreme enough, you may vomit as well.
5. Shoulders, skull, and jaw
Stress may affect your body through the tension triangle, which encompasses your shoulders, head, and jaw.
“Stress can cause tension headaches, neck and jaw stiffness, and knots and spasms in your neck and shoulders,” says Dr. Lang. “It may also contribute to TMJ, or jaw problem.”
6. Immune system
To combat disease, you need a healthy immune system, yet stress reduces your body’s defenses.
“It increases your chances of getting colds or the flu, for example,” advises Dr. Lang. “It may also aggravate autoimmune disorders including lupus and inflammatory bowel disease.”
Take care of your immune system by adopting good food and exercise routines. Most significantly, stress reduction can help you train your immune system, which can help you stay healthy.
7. Sexual and reproductive health
Have you ever wondered why your period occasionally skips a month or arrives a week late? There might be a variety of causes for this, but stress is definitely a component.
Naturally, this can lead to a stressful cycle in which you are concerned about or unclear when your next period will arrive. Missing periods on a regular basis owing to stress may also result in a hormonal imbalance or a condition known as secondary amenorrhea.
8. Sleep
Stress might also contribute to you tossing and turning all night. A persistent state of concern puts your mind (and body) in a state of tension – whether the stress appears as overthinking or staying up late playing video games or looking through your phone.
Worse, you may become upset over the fact that you aren’t sleeping, and the cycle will continue. Sleepless nights due to stress can have a negative impact on your health over time, especially if you’re not receiving the recommended 7 to 9 hours of sleep. It may potentially result in sleep issues such as insomnia.
9. Increase in weight
Stress may affect your weight due to the natural stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is partially responsible for metabolism management, and when too much of it is released, some biological activities halt and your metabolism slows down. Fortunately, there are techniques to regulate your cortisol levels and bring them back to working for you rather than against you.
10. mental well-being
Stress can trigger depressive symptoms and sap your excitement for activities you normally like, such as common hobbies or spending time with loved ones. If your stress becomes so constant that it causes you to worry all the time, you may have an anxiety condition. When people are worried, they tend to eat poorly and exercise less, which exacerbates their mental health problems.
Stress-induced depression is not a personal failure. That occurs to the majority of us, so don’t be hesitant to seek assistance.
When should you seek assistance?
“If you’re having difficulties getting to work, or if your sleep habits or appetite are changing, these are some signs that your stress level is out of control,” says Dr. Albers.
A single stressful day at work or a difficult school task may be manageable, but if it’s more than that, there are solutions to feel better.
“We can address the symptoms,” Dr. Lang says. “The actual key is to identify and address the underlying source of the problem.”
Your doctor can assist you with treatments such as stress management, psychotherapy, or anxiety medication. And by collaborating with your doctor as a team, you’ll be on your path to a healthy self.
Erin Balsa is a highly skilled and knowledgeable health journalist with a passion for educating the public on important health and wellness topics. With extensive experience in both traditional and digital media, Erin has established herself as a trusted voice in the field.