As strange as it sounds, the word ‘stress’ is almost synonymous with ‘modern life’ these days. Although people are constantly told how stress harms their health (it can lead to anxiety and depression, strain relationships, and even shorten their most of us continue to ignore the negative impact that stress can have on our bodies.
Believe it or not, many people literally seek out stress in their daily lives. They feel as if their life would be boring without stress. But they have no idea what impact it can have on their health. Stress is now considered the number one trigger of illness worldwide. These are some of the common stress-related health problems which you should know about and which you can avoid if you manage your stress better.
Depression And Anxiety
Stress can cause many emotions, including sadness, anxiety, and anger. Around 1 in 10 people are likely to experience clinical depression at some point in their life. Anxiety is an emotion that can also be triggered by stress and severe develop into a serious condition. While some anxiety may be normal or helpful, high anxiety levels can significantly impact your health.
Some people who experience stress have difficulty managing their emotions or have trouble coping with daily stressors. This can lead to mood disorders, which make both their lives and relationships with people difficult.
Digestive Issues
Our digestive systems are designed to break down and process our food, extracting nutrients and expelling waste. However, high-stress levels can cause digestive problems, such as nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, and even constipation. Chronic stress can also lead to changes in our intestinal bacteria, which could contribute to digestion problems. It might also lead to a higher risk of developing irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Lastly, it’s no surprise that severe stress can even cause diseases like diabetes.
Hair Loss & Gray Hair
When our bodies become stressed, the levels of certain hormones and chemicals increase; if these remain elevated for long periods, they can damage our hair follicles and accelerate hair loss. Normal hair loss is a natural part of the aging process. When we are young, we have plenty of growing hair and very little shedding hair. Erratic stress levels, poor diet, and genetics all play a role in when and how we start to lose hair.
When we are young, hair growth is faster than loss. When we age, hair growth is slower, and loss increases. For many people, this is normal and natural. However, some people experience hair loss at a young age or experience more rapid hair loss than usual. For example, if you are experiencing significant stress, you may notice your hair thinning prematurely or even turning gray.
Weight Gain and Loss
Stress can cause several eating disorders, including binge eating, anorexia, and bulimia. It can also cause people to overeat, leading to weight gain. Oftentimes, it’s not because people are hungry but because when they eat, it comforts them in stressful situations. If you’re facing such challenges, seeking support from an eating disorder treatment center can be crucial in managing these issues effectively.
When we experience stress, our bodies produce a hormone called cortisol. This hormone is helpful in the short term but can cause weight gain when it remains elevated. So iSo if you want to maintain a healthy figure and good health, try to find ways to keep your life under control and not let stress make it difficult for you.
Cardiovascular Problems
Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of our arteries, and chronic stress can raise our blood pressure and cause our heart rate to increase. While some people are more likely to experience this than others, everyone is at risk, especially those under constant stress increase the risk of high blood pressure. This increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
Insomnia and Nightmares
Stress can make it difficult to fall asleep, stay asleep, or both. It can also lead to waking early with no energy to start the day. When stress interrupts our sleep, it can affect our health. Sleep is essential for our health, and inadequate or interrupted sleep has been linked to various health issues. It can even be a contributing factor to obesity.
If a person is under constant stress, it is common for them to have nightmares that are sometimes too real.
Final Thoughts
Stress can be a normal part of life, but it can negatively impact our health if we don’t manage it properly. I know people who suffer from high blood pressure due to stress, and I also have a young family member diagnosed with type 1 diabetes three years ago. All of them know that the stress weakened their immunity and caused these problems, and they all agree that if they could make any change in the past, they would. And what change am I talking about? They would manage their stress better!
If you’ve been ignoring stress’s impact on your health, it’s time to take action. Let go of the stress in your life, and you’ll begin to notice the positive effects on your body and mind.
