Stress is a natural reaction to good and bad experiences. It can have many benefits for your health and safety. Your body releases hormones and increases your heart and breathing rates, and that is how the body responses to stress. The pressures of everyday responsibilities at work and at home, divorce, the death of a loved one, and many other negative life events can be the cause of stress. Furthermore, physical illness and traumatic stress can cause a stress to the body that can last for many years, beyond what is normal. However, stress leaves significant consequences to your body that have to be treated in order for you to have a healthy life.
Muscular System
Headaches, back and shoulder pain, and body aches are all the side effects of a high-stress level. Muscles tend to contract when a person is under stress, and they relax once a person feels calm. However, if a person is constantly under a stress, muscles are constantly tense, which leads to severe headaches and body aches. Furthermore, a muscle tension, and eventually, muscle atrophy are all connected with chronic, high levels of stress.
Digestion
Stress can cause heartburn, stomach cramping, and diarrhoea. Furthermore, existing ulcers will act up if a person is under a lot of stress. However, contrary to popular belief, stress is not one of the causes of ulcers, but it is responsible for its worsening condition. Nausea, vomiting, and a stomach-ache are another side effects of a high-stress level because stress affects the way food is processed in the stomach, which can lead to diarrhoea or constipation.
Central Nervous and Endocrine Systems
The central nervous system is responsible for the actions your body performs. When you are threatened by a danger, your brain releases adrenaline and cortisol which helps you cope with the predicament. Once you are safe again, the body relaxes, because the brain signals it to do so. However, if the body is not back in normal, it indicates that there is a certain disorder in the body. Anxiety, depression and irritability are some examples of stress effects. Furthermore, chronic stress can even cause overeating, not eating enough, drug or alcohol abuse, and even social withdrawal. Headaches and insomnia are also likely to become frequent if a person is under chronic stress.
Respiratory and Cardiovascular Systems
Respiratory and cardiovascular systems are often affected by stress hormones. When the body responds to stress you start breathing faster, so that the oxygen and blood can be quickly distributed to your body core. Furthermore, the heart also pumps faster when the body is under stress. Thanks to all these actions, oxygen is transferred to the brain and heart much quicker, so that a person can have more energy to take action.
Furthermore, stress can also make people with asthma and emphysema harder to breathe. Not only can the stress make asthmatics breathe harder, but also chronic stress can be one of the main triggers of asthma attacks. Hyperventilation is another respiratory problem that can be caused by stress. People who are prone to panic attacks can experience one if they face hyperventilation.
Usually, these attacks do not repeat, but if a person experiences them often, it is best if they seek professional help. Psychologists specialised in psychological assessments such as Sydney Counseling will be able to help everyone cope with their problems.
Chronic stress can cause long-term problems with heart and blood vessels. With heart rate constantly increasing and the levels of stress hormones constantly being elevated, the body will eventually become weak. The greatest consequence will, therefore, be the increased risk for hypertension, heart attack or stroke.
Reproductive System
When it comes to women’s reproductive system, stress can have the negative effect on the menstrual cycle. Irregular or a lack of menstruation is a sign of high-stress levels, as well as heavier and more painful periods. Chronic stress can magnify the physical symptoms of menopause.
Furthermore, stress may make premenstrual symptoms worse or more difficult to handle. The symptoms of PMS as mood swings, bloating, fluid retention, cramping, and negative mood are likely to be even more stressful for many women.
Emotional distress may cause the physical symptoms of menopause to be worse. Hot flashes, feelings of distress, anxiety, mood swings can all be much harder to handle if a woman is under a lot of stress.
Under a continuous stress, a man’s testosterone levels begin to drop. Consequently, that can cause erectile dysfunction or impotence due to sperm production interference. The urethra, prostate, and testes can become more prone to infection if a man is under chronic stress.
Stress can have highly negative effects on the entire well-being of a person. Therefore, it is best if a person seeks for a professional help in order to avoid chronic stress. Professional help is available in various places and they are the best possible way to cope with high stress levels. Preserving one’s health is the most important of all.