Stress is a regular part of life, and more often than not, our bodies are equipped to deal with various stressors we encounter on a daily basis. However, too much stress can have a negative impact on your emotional, cognitive and physical health, with symptoms ranging from mild discomfort to chronic disease.
Between work, family, school and other obligations, it isn’t uncommon to be overloaded with stress in today’s society. If you think you might have too much stress in your life, you may be right. Take a look at these six ways stress can affect your body to determine if you would benefit from additional stress management.
1. Headaches
The first sign of stress is often a headache. When you encounter stress throughout the day, your muscles begin to tense and likely, your head starts to hurt. Unfortunately, headaches or other pains tend to make us more stressed, fueling the unending cycle. Relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation can help reduce your risk of tension headaches or migraines caused by stress. There are also a number of ways to adjust your lifestyle to avoid excessive stress.
2. Insomnia
Stress is often a response that our body uses to find solutions or respond to crises. However, when you’re chronically stressed, your mind is probably racing and unable to relax, keeping you up at night. When you’re unable to truly rest and recharge, it can lead to irritability and lowered productivity during the day, as well as feelings of overwhelm or frustration.
3. Lowered immune system
Stress reduces the body’s ability to fight off antigens, which cause illness and disease, making you more susceptible to infection. The stress hormone, corticosteroid, suppresses the immune system and leaves the body exposed and unable to fight off foreign bodies, such as bacteria and viruses. Managing your stress levels can help reduce your chance of catching the bug that’s going around the office.
4. Gastrointestinal complications
At the base level, stress can cause upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea or constipation. However, when left untreated or unmanaged, stress can lead to more serious gastrointestinal issues like Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gastritis, ulcerative colitis and irritable colon. These conditions, when spotted early enough, can be prevented or lessened with proper stress management.
5. Kidney disease
Your kidneys are the first line of defense against toxins and irregularities in your blood since they function as blood filters. If unmanaged stress causes your blood pressure or blood sugar to increase, your kidneys will be working overtime, presenting a higher risk for kidney disease. Doctors are able to determine how well your kidneys are doing by measuring things like your creatinine level, which can help determine a plan of action if your kidneys are working too hard.
6. Bone and muscle issues
When you carry stress in your shoulders and neck, or in any other muscle group, you’re adding unnecessary strain to your body, which can lead to more permanent conditions like arthritis, inflammation and chronic pain. Some research suggests that stress can worsen symptoms of diseases like Lupus as well.
If you experience one or more of these physical indicators of excessive stress, you may benefit from talking to your doctor about stress management solutions that can help improve your daily life.
