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Health Problems Caused By
Stress
Over 1 million people each year are diagnosed with
stress-related illnesses. These illnesses range from mild to severe and acute.
Because the
effects of stress can be cumulative, often times people don't think that stress is the cause of
their problem. Stress can cause many health troubles. Even doctors may have a hard time determining
that stress has played a part in a health situation.
That's why it is important in all
medical conditions that you help your doctor by listing any stressful situations you may be
under.
Sometimes, the first real indication a person has that they are stressed is by the
body showing it in physical illness. The good news is, by reducing or eliminating our stress
levels, we can fight these diseases and in some cases, we can slow or reverse the effects of
stress.
Once we learn to reduce our stress levels, our body will respond positively. We can
prevent, reverse or slow down, many common illnesses by using stress control. Once free from
stress, the body once again functions as normal. The long-term effects, however, are with us and
may cause us problems down the road. By learning to control stress, we can help our body maintain
proper function.
Here are some common medical ailments that can be caused directly or
indirectly by stress:
- Headache - Stress can cause headaches. The stress
does not need to be occurring at the time you get the headache. Because stress can accumulate, one
or several stressful situations that have already occurred can cause you to get a headache. Stress
headaches usually subside after taking an over-the-counter medication. Tension headaches that are
more severe or that do not subside after a reasonable amount of time may be classified as a
tension-type headache.
- Sleep Difficulties - Many times, stress causes
people to have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep. If you are under stress, the mind is
constantly working on ways to fix the situation. You may find that you have a hard time removing
the situation from your mind long enough to fall asleep. Or, you may wake up after just a partial
night's sleep and be unable to fall back asleep because your mind is racing.
- Tiredness or Fatigue - Stress can cause us to
feel tired and listless. Because your mind is working overtime, you tire easily. If you don't sleep
well due to stress, you are tired and become exhausted easily. If you are experiencing extreme
fatigue, have your doctor rule out any medical causes.
- Overeating or Loss of Appetite - Stress may make
you overeat. (That MUST be my problem.) Your body is not using correct signals or is ignoring the
signals that let you know when to eat and when to stop eating. Some people eat when they are
nervous. Tension can also cause stomach aches, which can lead to loss of appetite.
- Heartburn or Sour Stomach - This is a very common
complaint that is often related to stress. The body increases acid secretions during times of
stress. This may lead to a buildup of acid causing many symptoms, such as heartburn or gas. Ulcers
can be the result of years of extra acid working on our stomach.
- Backaches - A common source of back aches is
tension caused by stress. Sitting in one position for long periods of time, such as hunched at a
computer keyboard, can cause back and neck aches as well. Working under a tight deadline can force
us to work for long periods with poor posture.
- Stiff Neck - Stress can cause us to tighten all of
our muscles. The neck and shoulders are extremely susceptible to pain from overuse or tension.
Sometimes, it may only take a small amount of stress to aggravate an already stiff neck.
- Colds or the Flu - Being under stress can
diminish the body's effectiveness to fight other illnesses, particularly colds and the flu. If you
seem to be getting colds frequently, you may want to review your stress levels.
- Pain in the Jaw - Tension can cause us to clench
our teeth. We usually do this without really knowing it; however, this clenching can cause us to
get severe pain in our jaws. You also may clench your teeth at night or you may grind your teeth.
Grinding your teeth at night is a way the body can physically remove some built up stress. This
action, however, can cause pain in the neck and jaw.
- Panic Attacks - Panic attacks are very common.
These episodes can occur when the body has an overload of stress. The symptoms can be very similar
to a heart attack. If you ever feel shortness of breath, dizziness, rapid heartbeat or chest pains,
seek medical attention immediately. Only a doctor can rule out the possibility of an actual heart
attack.
- Depression - When faced with chronic stress, some
people may show signs of depression. These include a lack of interest in others, fatigue, and
feelings of hopelessness. Talk to a medical doctor about these symptoms. When left untreated,
depression can worsen.
- Anger - Chronic stress can cause some people to
become angry. You may notice that small things set you into a state of anger. This could be the
cumulative stress making us irritable. Anger management classes deal with the underlying source of
the anger, which many times is due to stress.
- Elevated Blood Pressure - Tension and anger can
temporarily raise your blood pressure. This is especially bad for people who already have high
blood pressure.
- Raised Cholesterol - Studies have shown that
prolonged stress and tension can actually stimulate cholesterol production in the body, thus
raising your cholesterol level.
- Heart Disease - Heart disease is the number one
killer in the United States. Heart disease is caused by many factors, but stress can be a major
contributor to it. The heart, like any muscle, is exposed to stress over long periods of time.
Stress can increase the risk of heart disease.
- Cancer - Stress alone does not cause cancer.
However, it has been shown that stress adversely effects cancer. If you take measures to reduce
your stress, cancers often positively respond. In the next article of this series, I will tell you
the top 10 stress producers and how to determine how much stress you are having.
Disclaimer: It is highly recommended that you
consult with a physician or doctor if you suspect that your stress is too high, or if you believe
you have any other illnesses directly or indirectly caused by stress. This guide is not meant to be
a substitute for an opinion from a doctor or specialist. Any medication or other remedies should be
discussed with your doctor in full before taking further action. We will not be held responsible
for damages and/or problems resulting from the use of this information.
All information in
this series of articles is provided for informational purposes only. |
