7 Surprising Ways Stress Can Affect The Body
July 17, 2019
source: Sports & Spine Orthopaedics
Stress is a normal part of life. In some instances, stress can even be positive. However, if you’re constantly stressed with no relief period, stress can start to take a negative toll on your body. Here are 7 ways stress can affect your physical and mental health.
1. High Blood Pressure
Although experiencing stress from time to time is completely normal, being stressed 24/7 can cause your blood pressure to skyrocket. If your blood pressure is always at extremely elevated levels, it can start to affect the health of your heart and other vital organs.
2. Stomach Issues
You know that knot in your stomach that you experience when you’re stressed or nervous? Well, that knot can actually lead to a number of digestive issues. When your brain is stressed, it can place physical stress on your digestive system.
3. Headaches
When your brain is constantly on high alert, it’s never being given relief or a chance to rest. And so, it’s no wonder that persistent stress can lead to severe, frequent headaches.
4. Problems Sleeping
When we go to sleep, we’re giving our bodies and our brains a chance to rest and recharge. If your stress is making it impossible for your brain to shut down at night, you’re going to have a very disturbed sleep (which tends to just make stress worse).
5. Anxiety
Although anxiety and stress are two completely different feelings and phenomenons, being constantly stressed can trigger periods of bad anxiety.
6. Skin Issues
Did you know that periods of stress can actually cause your immune system to weaken? And when your immune system isn’t as strong, it can trigger a number of skin conditions including shingles and eczema.
7. Asthma
Although asthma can flare up for a number of reasons, being stressed is a huge asthma trigger. Prolonged periods of stress can cause your asthma symptoms to worsen.
If you’ve experienced some or many of these symptoms, you should consult with your doctor to figure out how to make your stress more manageable.