Impacts of Stress
You might not know what stress can do to your body so do give this a read.
Stress is a natural physical and psychological response to life’s events. Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. Stress can be helpful to your health in the short term for immediate, short-term conditions. It can assist you in dealing with potentially life-threatening situations. Work and family duties, as well as major life events such as a new illness, war, or the death of a loved one, can all be stressful.
Your body’s “fight or flight” reaction is triggered by stress chemicals. Your heart beats faster, your breath quickens, and your muscles tense up. This response was created to protect your body by preparing you to react fast in an emergency. However, if your stress response continues to fire day after day, your health may be jeopardised.
Chronic stress can create a wide range of symptoms and have an impact on your overall health. The following are some of the signs and symptoms of chronic stress:
Irritation
Depression
Headaches
Insomnia
Anxiety
Panic feeling
Problem in breathing
Overthinking
Cardiovascular and respiratory system
You breathe quicker during the stress response to quickly transfer oxygen-rich blood throughout your body.
When you’re stressed, your heart beats faster. Stress can make it increasingly harder to breathe if you already have a respiratory problem like asthma or emphysema.
Chronic stress causes your heart to work too hard for an extended period.
Muscular system
When you’re stressed, your muscles contract up to protect yourselves from injury.
Headaches, back and shoulder pain, and general aches are all symptoms of tight muscles.
Digestive system
When your system is stressed, your liver creates more blood sugar (glucose) to give you an energy boost.
Chronic stress has been linked to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes. Due to an increase in stomach acid, you’re more likely to have heartburn or acid reflux. Although stress does not cause ulcers, it does raise your chances of getting one.
Diarrhoea or constipation can also be caused by stress.
Immune system
Your immune system will be weakened by stress hormones, and your body’s response to external invaders will be reduced. Chronically stressed people are more vulnerable to viral diseases such as the flu and the common cold, as well as other infections.
