It’s not uncommon for people to ask, “How does stress affect health?” We have often heard rumors about how stress can ruin you physically and mentally. Is there any truth to it?
It is true that stress can do damage to our over all health. The exact conditions however that are believed to be caused by stress are still being disputed. Various research studies are now focusing on finding out the exact impact of stress on the human body. Even without conclusive results though, there are already some alarming facts about stress. The OSHA says that stress is a major hazard. It has been correctly named so especially since 43% of the population have conditions brought about by stress.
Ongoing studies seem to show that people are often more prone to certain conditions. Here are some of the possible health problems that people under stress may have to face:
- Stress may be responsible for certain heart ailments. The hormones produced during a state of stress increase blood pressure and heart rate. This increase will in turn put too much pressure on the arteries. This could harm them, cause them to thicken, and eventually lead to heart disease.
- How does stress affect health on a daily basis? Stress can actually weaken your immune system. This happens when stress hormones suppress the function of the immune system. With the system not functioning at 100%, a person under stress becomes more susceptible to colds, flu, and other kinds of bacterial and viral infections.
- Your weight can also become affected by stress. When under a lot of pressure, our bodies tend to consume our energy sources faster. These means you may feel the urge to refuel more and in greater amounts. This could lead to weight gain. On the other hand, stressed out individuals who do not have time to eat may loose a lot of weight and endanger their health further due to a lack of essential nutrients.
- You may have noticed that you may experience more stomach complaints when under stress. If you miss meals due to your preoccupation with stressful factors, then you could develop hyperacidity. Loose bowels are also a natural reaction to stress due to chemical reactions that cause the stomach to digest food improperly.
- Your mind may also suffer from too much stress. It is not uncommon for people under a lot of stress to experience deeper psychological problems. You could suffer from anxiety attacks, develop depression or become overly obsessive compulsive.
- If you worry too much over problems, you could lose your ability to sleep well. Being able to sleep for a short while and waking up tense are signs that stress may have gotten the better of you. This is not a good thing. Night sleep is essential to keep the body thoroughly rested and recharged.
- Those who experience stress complain of various other conditions. You may experience, headaches, rashes, gum problems, menstrual irregularities, hair loss and sexual problems.
How does stress affect health? It is obvious that stress can affect you in more ways than one. Make sure you find a way to get stress out of your daily life.