The Effects of Stress on Your Body

The Effects of Stress on Your Body

Everyone experiences stress. Many health problems are related to stress, but not all stress is bad for health. Some types of stress can be healthy and increase alertness, memory, and efficiency.

Many people are exposed to chronic stress, which is bad for health. Chronic stress is experienced for a prolonged period. Too much stress and experiencing stress for too long can negatively affect physical and mental health.

Health issues linked to stress include obesity, insomnia, depression, anxiety, heart attacks, hair loss, stroke, hypertension, immune system disturbances that increase risk of infection, viral disorders, including the common cold and herpes, and autoimmune diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Stress can affect the skin. Rashes, hives, and eczema may be induced by stress.

Central nervous and endocrine systems

Your central nervous system (CNS) is in charge of your “fight or flight” response. In your brain, the hypothalamus gets the ball rolling, telling your adrenal glands to release the stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones rev up your heartbeat and send blood rushing to the areas that need it most in an emergency, such as your muscles, heart, and other important organs.

When the perceived fear is gone, the hypothalamus should tell all systems to go back to normal. If the CNS fails to return to normal, or if the stress or doesn’t go away, the response will continue.

Chronic stress is also a factor in behaviors such as overeating or not eating enough, alcohol or drug abuse, and social withdrawal.

Respiratory and cardiovascular systems

Stress hormones affect your respiratory and cardiovascular systems. During the stress response, you breathe faster in an effort to quickly distribute oxygen-rich blood to your body. If you already have a breathing problem like asthma or emphysema, stress can make it even harder to breathe.

Under stress, your heart also pumps faster. Stress hormones cause your blood vessels to constrict and divert more oxygen to your muscles so you’ll have more strength to take action. But this also raises your blood pressure.

As a result, frequent or chronic stress will make your heart work too hard for too long. When your blood pressure rises, so do your risks for having a stroke or heart attack.

Digestive system

Under stress, your liver produces extra blood sugar (glucose) to give you a boost of energy. If you’re under chronic stress, your body may not be able to keep up with this extra glucose surge. Chronic stress may increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

The rush of hormones, rapid breathing, and increased heart rate can also upset your digestive system. You’re more likely to have heartburn or acid reflux thanks to an increase in stomach acid. Stress doesn’t cause ulcers (a bacterium called H. pylori often does), but it can increase your risk for them and cause existing ulcers to act up.

Stress can also affect the way food moves through your body, leading to diarrhea or constipation. You might also experience nausea, vomiting, or a stomachache.

Muscular system

Your muscles tense up to protect themselves from injury when you’re stressed. They tend to release again once you relax, but if you’re constantly under stress, your muscles may not get the chance to relax. Tight muscles cause headaches, back and shoulder pain, and body aches. Over time, this can set off an unhealthy cycle as you stop exercising and turn to pain medication for relief.

Sexuality and reproductive system

Stress is exhausting for both the body and mind. It’s not unusual to lose your desire when you’re under constant stress. While short-term stress may cause men to produce more of the male hormone testosterone, this effect doesn’t last.

If stress continues for a long time, a man’s testosterone levels can begin to drop. This can interfere with sperm production and cause erectile dysfunction or impotence. Chronic stress may also increase risk of infection for male reproductive organs like the prostate and testes.

For women, stress can affect the menstrual cycle. It can lead to irregular, heavier, or more painful periods. Chronic stress can also magnify the physical symptoms of menopause.

Immune system

Stress stimulates the immune system, which can be a plus for immediate situations. This stimulation can help you avoid infections and heal wounds. But over time, stress hormones will weaken your immune system and reduce your body’s response to foreign invaders. People under chronic stress are more susceptible to viral illnesses like the flu and the common cold, as well as other infections. Stress can also increase the time it takes you to recover from an illness or injury.

Hair Loss

Severe stress can harm your locks. Stress can trigger hair loss from an autoimmune condition known as alopecia areata. If stress is coupled with anxiety, it can contribute to a mental disorder that gives people an urge to pull their own hair out.

Sources:

5 Things you should know about stress. (n.d.).

Breathing problems: How to control stress. (n.d.)

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Chronic stress puts your health at risk.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2017). Erectile dysfunction: Symptoms and causes.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2015). Headaches: Reduce stress to prevent the pain.

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2016). Stress symptoms: Effects on your body and behavior.

Peptic ulcers. (n.d.).

Stress effects on the body. (n.d.).

Stopped or missed periods. (2016).

Stress heart disease. (n.d.).

The Physiology of stress: Cortisol and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. (2011).

Understanding the stress response. (2016).

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