۳۰ Ways Stress Can Affect Your Body

Stress is a term you’re likely familiar with. You may also know exactly what stress feels like. Short-term (acute) stress isn’t likely to cause any major health concerns.
But the story’s different with long-term (chronic) stress. When you’re under stress for days — or even weeks or months — you’re at risk for numerous health effects. Such risks may extend to your body and mind, as well as your emotional well-being. Stress may even lead to an inflammatory response in the body, which has been associated with numerous chronic health issues.
Learn more facts about stress, as well as some of the possible contributing factors. Knowing the signs and causes of stress can help you treat it.
۱. Stress is a hormonal response from the body
This response all starts with a part of your brain called the hypothalamus. When you’re stressed, the hypothalamus sends signals throughout your nervous system and to your kidneys.
In turn, your kidneys release stress hormones. These include adrenaline and cortisol.
۲. Women appear more prone to stress than men
Women are more likely to experience more physical signs of stressed compared to their male counterparts.
This doesn’t mean that men don’t experience stress. Instead, men are more likely to try to escape from the stress and not exhibit any signs.
۳. Stress can overburden your mind with incessant worries
You may be flooded with thoughts about the future and your daily to-do list.
Rather than focusing on one item at a time though, these thoughts bombard your mind all at once, and it’s difficult to escape them.
۴. You may feel jittery from stress
Your fingers may shake, and your body might feel off-balance. Sometimes dizziness can occur. These effects are linked to hormonal releases — for example, adrenaline can cause a surge of jittery energy throughout your body.
۵. Stress can make you feel hot
This is caused by a rise in blood pressure. You may get hot in situations where you’re nervous too, such as when you have to give a presentation.
۶. Being stressed can make you sweat
Stress-related sweat is usually a follow-up to excessive body heat from stress. You might sweat from your forehead, armpits, and groin area.
۷. Digestive problems may occur
Stress can make your digestive system go haywire, causing diarrhea, stomach upset, and excessive urination.
۸. Stress can make you irritable, and even angry
This is due to an accumulation of stress’s effects in the mind. It can also occur when stress affects the way you sleep.
۹. Over time, stress can make you feel sad
Constant overwhelming stress can take its toll, and bring down your overall outlook on life. Feelings of guilt are possible too.
۱۰. Long-term stress can increase your risk of mental health disabilities
According to the National Institute of Mental HealthTrusted Source, anxiety and depression are the most common.
۱۱. Insomnia may be stress-related
When you can’t quiet down racing thoughts at night, sleep may be hard to come by.
۱۲. Chronic headaches are sometimes attributed to stress
These are often called tension headaches. The headaches may crop up every time you encounter stress, or they may be ongoing in cases of long-term stress.
۱۳. With stress, you may even find it difficult to breathe
Shortness of breath is common with stress, and it can then turn into nervousness.
۱۴. Your skin is sensitive to stress too
Acne breakouts can occur in some people, while others might have itchy rashes. Both symptoms are related to an inflammatory response from stress.
۱۵. Frequent stress decreases your immune system
In turn, you’ll likely experience more frequent colds and flus, even when it isn’t the season for these illnesses.
The bottom line
Everyone experiences occasional stress. Because our lives are increasingly jam-packed with obligations, such as school, work, and raising kids, it can seem like a stress-free day is impossible.
Given all the negative effects long-term stress can have on your health, though, it’s worth making stress relief a priority. (Over time, you’ll likely be happier, too!).
If stress is getting in the way of your health and happiness, talk to your doctor about ways you can help manage it. Aside from diet, exercise, and relaxation techniques, they may also recommend medications and therapies.