Stress is detrimental to your whole body. It can make your heart rate and breathing faster, increase your blood pressure, and cause other systems of your body to overwork. This is the way your body reacts to danger. Being under some amount of stress from time to time is completely normal, but continuous stress can lead to numerous health problems.
Keep on reading to discover how stress affects different parts and systems in your body.
1. Mental health
Anxiety is a mental health disorder that affects about 19% of Americans. Though your lifestyle and genetics play a role in your mental health, severe stress can also improve your odds of developing a mental health disorder. Experts suggest that the human brain releases certain hormones while being under stress. These hormones negatively affect your serotonin production, a key chemical that helps stabilize your mood. Abnormal serotonin levels can eventually lead to anxiety or even a major depressive disorder.
2. Cardiovascular system
Persistent stress can trigger high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and arrhythmia. If you’ve already been diagnosed with heart problems, stress can worsen your symptoms. Stress causes specific blood cells to get stickier, putting you at higher risk of blood clots and strokes. Apart from the way your body biologically reacts to stress, stress-associated behaviors can also impact your cardiovascular health. These include poor nutrition, alcohol consumption, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle.
3. Sleep
Due to chronic stress, you can experience difficulty falling or staying asleep. Occasional insomnia is not a cause for concern. But insomnia that occurs at least three times a week and lasts more than a month can result in exhaustion, irritability, and increased stress. Insomnia can trigger other medical conditions if left untreated. These include anxiety, depression, and congestive heart failure.
4. Headaches
Stress stimulates the release of certain hormones that cause changes in blood vessels across your body. These changes can result in migraines and tension headaches. Being under constant stress can also lower your pain tolerance, decreasing your ability to manage head pain.
5. Skin problems
The way your skin looks can indicate the overall condition of your health. By triggering chemical reactions throughout your body, stress can make your skin more irritable and sensitive. Stress hormones can also worsen skin disorders that you already have. Hence, while being agitated you may develop more pimples, hives, rashes, and itchy, rough, and cracked patches on your skin.
6. Digestive system
Apart from making you feel sick to the stomach, stress can also cause constipation, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, and heartburn. Besides, irritable bowel syndrome, a disorder that causes pain and irritation in your large intestine, is also highly associated with stress.
7. Immune system
Your immune system consists of cells that help fight harmful bacteria, cancer, and viruses. A recent study has shown that those under persistent stress typically lack white blood cells and are more prone to develop cold and other respiratory diseases. White blood cells are essential to prevent and treat infections. Also, if you’re sick, stress can worsen your symptoms.
8. Metabolic system and weight control
Experts say there’s a link between the stress hormone cortisol and fat and sugar cravings. Besides, cortisol leads to increased fat accumulation in your body, especially in your stomach. Hence, it can make losing excess weight even harder. Most stressed individuals are prone to stress-eating. While being under severe stress, prevent those cravings by always having healthy snacks in your fridge.
The bottom line
If you endure lots of stress and experience symptoms of any of the aforementioned problems, seek medical attention immediately to prevent permanent damage to your overall health. Also, consider reducing stress by trying things like yoga, meditation, and guided imagery.
Comments