Symptoms of chronic stress include:. 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. Chronic stress is also a factor in behaviors such as overeating or not eating enough, alcohol or drug abuse, and social withdrawal. 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. 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. Under stress, your liver produces extra blood sugar glucose to give you a boost of energy. 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.
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.
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. Stress is exhausting for both the body and mind.
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. Health Tools. By Rose Alexander. Reviewed: November 15, Have you ever heard of illnesses caused by stress? You may think that health problems are the result of bacteria or viruses.
There are many kinds of illnesses caused by stress involving both the body and the mind. Insomnia Stress keeps people awake at night due to worry, anxiety, or uncertainty about the future. Some people worry about their jobs, while others are concerned over family issues or health problems.
Many things in life can be stressful and stress, if left unmanaged, can interrupt or delay sleep. To combat sleeplessness caused by stress, try drinking a glass of milk before bedtime, avoid caffeine, do not exercise at least four hours before going to bed and keep your bedroom cool, dimly lit and comfortable.
Eating disorders Have you ever reached for something sweet and tasty when you felt overwhelmed by stress? You are not alone. Thousands of people react to stress by feeding an eating pattern that typically reaches for sweets or carbohydrate -laden foods for a quick sugar rush.
While your blood sugar may skyrocket briefly, it is sure to plummet afterward, often leaving you feeling worse than before. If you must nibble when stress has you in its clasp, stick to crisp veggies or light butter popcorn. Fiber will make you feel full and keep you healthy, too.
Eat a balanced diet to calm your nerves and stay on top of stressful situations. Depression Unresolved stress can make a person feel angry or hopeless, both of which can lead to depression. If you feel chronically sad, have trouble thinking clearly, feel alone or unloved, struggle with guilt or shame, chances are you are battling a serious case of depression related to stress.
It helps you manage dangerous situations. It also occurs when you do something new or exciting. All people have acute stress at one time or another. Chronic stress. This is stress that lasts for a longer period of time. You may have chronic stress if you have money problems, an unhappy marriage, or trouble at work. Any type of stress that goes on for weeks or months is chronic stress. You can become so used to chronic stress that you don't realize it is a problem. If you don't find ways to manage stress , it may lead to health problems.
Over time, this puts you at risk for health problems, including: High blood pressure Heart disease Diabetes Obesity Depression or anxiety Skin problems, such as acne or eczema Menstrual problems If you already have a health condition, chronic stress can make it worse. Here are some signs that stress may be affecting you: Diarrhea or constipation Forgetfulness Frequent aches and pains Headaches Lack of energy or focus Sexual problems Stiff jaw or neck Tiredness Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much Upset stomach Use of alcohol or drugs to relax Weight loss or gain.
Some common sources of stress include: Getting married or divorced Starting a new job The death of a spouse or close family member Getting laid off Retiring Having a baby Money problems Moving Having a serious illness Problems at work Problems at home. When to Contact a Medical Professional.
Call a suicide hotline if you have thoughts of suicide. Reasons you may want to seek help are: You have feelings of panic, such as dizziness, rapid breathing, or a racing heartbeat. You are unable to work or function at home or at your job. You have fears that you cannot control. You are having memories of a traumatic event. Alternative Names.
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