What Can Stress Do to Your Body?
Stress is the body’s natural response to life events or experiences. Our body has an adaptive mechanism to short-term stresses. However, when this stress is prolonged and becomes chronic, it badly affects your health.
The effects could include anxiety, depression, irritability, memory problems, lack of motivation, upset stomach, sleep problems, and the list goes on. Therefore, understanding the effects of stress is essential in adopting a stress-coping mechanism.
How Stress Affects the Body?
Short-term stress is beneficial as it helps in completing tasks and handling challenging situations effectively. Long-term and consistent stress can affect your health both mentally and physically.
In stress situations, the human body releases certain hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, helping the body to prepare for a fight or flight response. Here’s how stress affects the body systems.
- CNS and Endocrine System
The central nervous system and endocrine system play an important role in the body’s coordination. In a stressful situation, the CNS is in charge of activating the fight or flight response by releasing stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline.
These hormones increase the heartbeat and blood pressure until the stressors are removed. Chronic stress can affect your behavior as well. Overeating, drug or alcohol abuse, and reduced eating are some common symptoms.
- Cardiovascular and Respiratory System
The respiratory and cardiovascular systems are significantly affected in stressful situations. During stress, the respiratory system becomes faster and manages to deliver oxygenated blood to the muscles quickly.
Stress can cause emphysema or asthma in a patient having any respiratory history. Stress increases the heartbeat and blood pressure in the body, posing the risk of a heart attack and stroke.
- Digestive System
Stress affects the way the food moves in the body. It may cause diarrhea, constipation, stomachache, nausea, and vomiting. When you are stressed, the liver produces excess glucose to provide enough energy.
However, in chronic stress, this heightened glucose cannot be managed by the body. Stress can make you susceptible to a stomach ulcer or can trigger it if you are already an ulcer patient. However, heartburn and acid reflux are also included in the stress effects.
- Muscular System
The muscular system of the body can be described in two words: contract and relax. Any interference with this functioning can cause serious problems. When the person stays in stress condition constantly, the muscles cannot find time to relax properly, which makes them stiff and unable to work.
Some chronic stress symptoms in the muscular system include body aches, stiff muscles, shoulder and back pain, and headaches.
- Immune System
Stress stimulates the immune system and helps in infection control and wound healing through quick stimulation. While in the long run, this stimulation can weaken the immune system. It can negatively influence the ability of the immune system to fight against viruses.
Chronic stress can make the body susceptible to many infections, such as flu and cold. Chronic stress and inflammation are also related to autoimmune diseases.
- Psychological and Behavioral Effects
Stress affects the psychological processes and behaviors of your body. Some common effects include restlessness, anxiety, sleep issues, depression or sadness, lack of motivation, lack of focus, eating disorders, loneliness, misuse of alcohol or drugs, and less physical activity.
How to Manage and Reduce Stress?
The recent psychological research on stress reveals various stress management techniques. These strategies are highly effective in reducing stress responses in the body. Here are some natural stress relief methods that can be used to reduce stress:
- Regular exercise
- Practice mindfulness and meditation
- Adapt to healthy and nutritious dietary habits
- Ensure the body gets adequate quality sleep
- Use some relaxation-inducing products, such as edibles, that promote relaxation and reduce anxiety
- Maintain strong emotional bonding with friends and family members
Key Takeaway
Stress is your body’s response to challenging situations you are facing in your life. It could either be your workload or personal life responsibilities. Stress strongly affects your physical, mental, and behavioral processes and poses serious health risks.
If the stress is prolonged for an extended period, it becomes chronic stress. Chronic stress contributes to the development of other physical and mental health disorders. If you are struggling to adopt effective stress-coping strategies, it’s better to consult a mental health professional.
