By Sanjana Malkareddy
By Unsplash from Unsplash
What is stress?
Stress is your body’s mental and physical response to life experiences. Stress occurs when you face stressors or challenges, and how your body reacts to them determines whether it’s harmful or not. Not all stress is harmful. Acute stress or short-term stress is beneficial and keeps your body alert and aware, but too much of anything isn’t good. So, if you face acute stress continuously, it becomes chronic stress, affecting your body’s overall health.
Stressors
Stressors are situations that result in stress and just like not all stress is harmful, not all stressors are negative. For example, getting a new job is a positive stressor because it’s good news but also comes with additional challenges. Further examples include going on a first date, having a baby, learning something new, or moving to a new house. Examples of negative stressors include getting fired from your job, financial issues, health issues, or relationship conflicts.
How does it affect your body?
A common reaction to stress is your body’s fight-or-flight response. During this response, your body prioritizes its energy usage for vital functions. For example, your blood pressure and heart rate increase, your pupils dilate, stress hormones such as adrenaline are released, and more. Meanwhile, body processes such as digestion or tissue repair are paused. Chronic stress results in a continuous activation of this response. Due to the body’s state during this time, repeated use of the fight-or-flight response has serious consequences on your body.
Symptoms
Physical symptoms of stress can include tense muscles, body aches, digestive problems, hypertension, chest pain, insomnia, headaches, shaking, dizziness, and a vulnerable immune system. Psychological symptoms of stress can include depression, sadness, panic attacks, anxiety, and being easily irritated. Behavioral symptoms of stress can include a gambling disorder, alcohol use disorder, eating disorder, substance use disorder, and smoking.
The effects of chronic stress on body systems
Immune System: The persistent release of stress hormones can result in a compromised immune system, leading to increased chances of contracting illnesses such as the flu and vulnerability to fighting them. Chronic stress can also lead to conditions like fibromyalgia, arthritis, and psoriasis.
Digestive System: Chronic stress can increase your chances of getting type two diabetes, ulcers, heartburn, and acid reflux. Constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and weight loss or gain may also occur.
Circulatory System: The fight-or-flight response can cause your heart to work harder for longer periods, which can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, leaving you at a greater risk for a stroke or heart attack.
Reproductive System: In males, chronic stress can cause testosterone levels to drop and make reproductive organs such as the prostate and testes prone to infections. In females, continuous stress can lead to irregular periods and affect the menstrual cycle. Physical symptoms of menopause can also be intensified.
Muscular System: During the fight-or-flight response, your muscles tense up to protect themselves. Repeated stress can trigger this response frequently, inhibiting your muscles from relaxing. Tense muscles can cause headaches and body pains.
Stress management and treatment
Stress isn’t something you can avoid, so it’s important to find techniques that help cope with it. For example, it’s important to be positive and think about your accomplishments rather than what you didn’t accomplish. Other techniques include maintaining a healthy lifestyle and setting goals for yourself. Lastly, talking to a healthcare provider such as a therapist helps in dealing with stress.
MCR Committee: Health
Citations
Cleveland Clinic. (2024, April 30). What happens during fight-or-flight response. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-happens-to-your-body-during-the-fight-or-flight-response
Pietrangelo, A. (2023, March 21). The effects of stress on your body. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/stress/effects-on-body#Immune-system
professional, C. C. medical. (n.d.). What is stress?. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11874-stress