Have you ever been on a first date and noticed that your hands were sweaty or that a scary movie made your heart race? You are aware that your body and mind are under stress at that point. Our ancient ancestors evolved an instinctive reaction to protect themselves from predators and other dangers. When the body senses danger, stress chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol are released, raising blood pressure, heart rate, and energy levels while preparing the body to handle the situation.


You're hardly likely to be in danger of being eaten these days. However, you most likely deal with various issues daily, such as balancing childcare, meeting deadlines, and paying bills, which cause your body to respond similarly. Consequently, the "fight or flight" response—your body's natural alarm system—may become trapped in the on position. And the effects on your health could be dire.

 

Pressure points

Even mild, transient stress can have an effect. For example, you might have nausea before a presentation. Even more excellent effects can result from more severe acute stress, which might be brought on by a disagreement with your partner or by an occurrence like an earthquake or terrorist attack.


One theory linking stress to a heart attack is that chronic, high levels of acute stress may also aggravate circulatory systemic inflammation, especially in the coronary arteries. It also seems that a person's cholesterol levels are influenced by their reaction to stress.

 

Chronic Stress

Stress becomes even more dangerous when it interferes with your capacity to live a regular life for an extended period. The detrimental effects of stress on your body and mind increase with its duration. For example, you might have weariness, difficulty concentrating, or unfounded irritability. However, persistent stress also wears down your body.


Nearly every bodily function can be affected by the prolonged activation of the stress response system and the excessive exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones that result from it.

Stress symptoms may negatively impact your health, even if you are unaware of it. You might attribute your headache, sleep issues, fatigue, or inability to concentrate at work to being ill. However, stress can be the true culprit.

 

Common Effects Of Stress

Your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behaviour can all be impacted by stress symptoms. Being aware of typical stress symptoms will help you deal with them. Ignored stress can cause a host of health issues, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, obesity, and diabetes.


Everyone has experienced it. Stress occasionally works in your favour by inspiring you to perform best at a job interview or piano recital. But frequently, it's a lousy force—like when trapped in traffic. If you don't take action, long-term stress has the potential to turn into a chronic condition. Our health can be impacted by emotional stress in several ways:

 

Mental and Emotional Health:

Stress can cause us to become agitated, depressed, or furious. Additionally, it may make it more challenging to focus, think effectively, and make decisions. This may exacerbate anxiety or despair and have an impact on our general mental health.

 

Cardiovascular Health:

When we experience stress, our bodies release hormones that raise blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart rate. Stress can strain our cardiovascular system and increase our risk of heart disease and other heart-related issues if it persists.

 

Immune Function:

Prolonged stress can impair our immunity, leaving us more susceptible to viruses, infections, and other diseases. It may also cause the healing process to stall and prolong the time it takes for us to recover from illnesses or wounds.

 

View More: What Is Stress Disorder And How Can You Get Rid of It


Digestive System:

Stress can cause issues with our digestive systems, including nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and stomachaches. Additionally, it might exacerbate pre-existing diseases like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

 

Sleep Disorders:

Stress-related to emotions can interfere with our sleep cycles, making it harder to fall asleep or producing poor-quality sleep. Inadequate sleep can impair our mood, cause us to feel exhausted, and hinder our ability to think effectively.

 

Musculoskeletal Health:

Extended periods of stress can lead to headaches, body aches, and tense muscles. Moreover, it may exacerbate ailments like temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ) and exacerbate chronic pain disorders like fibromyalgia.

 

Reproductive Health:

Stress on an emotional level can affect our ability to conceive. It may result in irregular menstruation, decreased libido, or problems with conception. It may also have an impact on sexual pleasure and function.

 

Skin Conditions:

Skin disorders such as psoriasis, acne, eczema, or hives can worsen under stress. Additionally, it can cause premature skin aging and slow down the healing of wounds.

 

How To Manage Stress?

Taking action to control your stress might have numerous health benefits if you experience symptoms of stress. View a variety of potential stress-reduction suggestions. As an illustration:

 

  • Engage in regular exercise most days of the week.
  • Use calming strategies. Try yoga, tai chi, meditation, deep breathing, or massage.
  • Maintain your humor.
  • Have fun with your loved ones and friends.
  • Allocate time for your interests. Take a walk, read a book, or listen to music. Allocate time for your interests.
  • Keep a journal and write in it.
  • Make time to sleep.
  • Consume a well-balanced diet.
  • Refrain from using illegal narcotics, alcohol, and tobacco.

Make an effort to control your stress actively. Sedentary stress-reduction techniques that don't include movement could feel soothing. But over time, they might increase your stress levels. Examples include using the internet, playing video games, and watching television.

 

When to Get Assistance?

See your healthcare provider if you're unsure whether stress is the cause of your symptoms or if you've tried to manage your stress, but they persist. Your physician might wish to look into further possible reasons. Consider consulting a counsellor or therapist instead; they may assist you in identifying the causes of your stress and teaching you new coping mechanisms. Additionally, give a suicide hotline a call if you are worried about hurting yourself.


Additionally, if you experience any of the following symptoms in addition to chest pain: sweat, dizziness, nausea, jaw, back, shoulder, or arm discomfort, or shortness of breath, obtain emergency care immediately. These might not only be symptoms of stress; they could be warning signals of a heart attack.


Conclusion

Our health can be significantly impacted by emotional stress. It may affect our immunological system, digestive system, musculoskeletal system, reproductive system, mental health, immune system function, sleep habits, and skin issues. Effective stress management involves taking care of oneself, leading a healthy lifestyle, getting assistance, and using stress-reduction tactics.


Please book an appointment with the best Psychologist in Lahore, Karachi, Islamabad, and all major cities of Pakistan through InstaCare, or call our helpline at 03171777509 to find the verified doctor for your disease.