7 Ways Stress is Affecting your Physical Health

The word "stress" is used a lot, and it can mean different things to different people. Is there a one-size-fits-all definition of stress? Is stress ever a good thing? Ever wondered what chronic stress really is and how it affects us?

It's that overwhelming worry and mental tension that creeps in during tough times. Stress is totally a part of being human. It pushes us to tackle challenges and navigate through life's ups and downs. We all experience stress in our lives but how we deal with stress really shapes our overall wellbeing. Stress impacts your mind and body in ways you might not even realize. Finding ways to manage stress is key to feeling more balanced and taking care of our mind and body!

Stress can be two types: ‘eustress’ and ‘distress’

Eustress, or 'good stress,' refers to stress that results in a pleasant response. It refers to any sort of positive stress, physical or psychological. It is usually short-term and stimulating. People view this form of stress as manageable and even inspiring.

Distress is a negative stress reaction characterized by negative mood and physiological reactivity, caused by overwhelming tasks, losses, or imagined dangers. Distress can cause physiological changes that offer substantial health concerns, especially when paired with maladaptive coping strategies.

How does stress affect our body?

We all know that chronic stress can impact our mental health. It can cause anxiety, depression and be a trigger for other mental conditions. But did you know that it can impact our physical health as well? Our bodies are well-equipped to handle stress in tiny doses, but when that stress becomes prolonged or chronic, it can have major consequences for our health.

In tough times, our brain and body work together to adapt and thrive!  Did you know that cortisol and adrenaline are our body's stress hormones? Stress often gets talked about in the context of the "fight or flight" response! The "wear and tear" on our bodies, from our minds to our physical selves, can really add up and lead to some serious health issues. Feeling overwhelmed can lead to anxiety and sadness, sleepless nights, cravings for comfort food, and sometimes even too much smoking or drinking. It's a tough cycle to break. It can lead us to miss out on hanging with friends, taking breaks from work, or skipping our usual workouts as we find ourselves glued to the screen, trying to tackle that never-ending to-do list. Sometimes, we find ourselves reaching for those meds—like anxiolytics and sleep aids—to get through tough times. But over time, that can lead to weight gain and other signs of an unhealthy lifestyle.

1)  Stress and Brain

Chronic stress can really take a toll on our brain structure. Did you know that chronic stress can actually change the structure of our brains? It’s wild how it affects volume and the way our neurons connect. The brain may undergo measurable physical changes in response to both the repeated exposure of ‘fight or flight’ reactions and underlying stressors, such as chronic health conditions or financial issues. These changes can lead to loss of brain cells, resulting in parts of the brain getting smaller over time. Chronic stress can put you at high risk for stroke, headaches, memory and even cognitive impairments.

2)  Stress and Lungs

When we're under a lot of stress, our airways narrow, which can lead to symptoms like shortness of breath and fast breathing. Although the extra effort required to breathe normally is usually not an issue for those who do not have respiratory diseases, such as asthma or COPD (which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis), psychological stresses can make breathing even more difficult for those who already have these conditions.

According to some researches, sudden emotional upheaval, like the loss of a loved one, might set off asthma episodes. Furthermore, for those who are already vulnerable to panic attacks, the hyperventilation (rapid breathing) brought on by stress might trigger an attack.

Cognitive behavioral techniques, such as deep breathing exercises and relaxation techniques, can be helpful when worked on in conjunction with a psychologist or psychotherapist.

3)  Stress and Heart

Acute stress, including meeting deadlines, getting trapped in traffic, or braking suddenly to prevent an accident, elevates the heart rate and contracts the heart muscle. Stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol convey cardiac impulses.  Blood veins to the heart and major muscles grow. This increases blood pressure because the heart pumps more blood to these places. Known as the "fight or flight" response. When short-term concern ends, the body returns to normal.  Chronic stress—long-term worry—can develop heart and blood vessel issues. Continuously rising heart rate, stress hormones, and blood pressure are unhealthy. Long-term anxiety can cause high blood pressure, heart attacks, and strokes.  Repeated short-term and long-term stress can induce blood vessel inflammation and heart attacks. How someone manages concern may affect their cholesterol. Stress may increase or decrease heart disease risk in premenopausal or postmenopausal women. Premenopausal women's estrogen levels assist their blood arteries handle stress. This improves stress management and prevents heart disease. No estrogen means postmenopausal women are less safe. This increases stress-related heart disease more likely.

4)  Stress and Gut

Stress can affect this brain-gut communication and may trigger pain, bloating, and other gut discomfort to be felt more easily. The gut is also inhabited by millions of bacteria which can influence its health and the brain’s health, which can impact the ability to think and affect emotions.

Stress is associated with changes in gut bacteria which in turn can influence mood. Thus, the gut’s nerves and bacteria strongly influence the brain and vice versa.

Early life stress can change the development of the nervous system as well as how the body reacts to stress. These changes can increase the risk for later gut diseases or dysfunction.

5)  Stress and Bowel

Feeling those tummy troubles? Stress can totally amplify that pain, bloating, and discomfort in your bowels. Did you know that it can influence the speed at which food travels through your body? This can lead to some pretty interesting outcomes, like diarrhea or constipation! Did you know that stress can lead to muscle spasms in the bowel?

It can totally mess with your digestion and how your body absorbs nutrients. Gas production linked to nutrient absorption might be on the rise!

6)  Stress and Sexual Health and Reproduction

Chronic stress, can lower testosterone production, which can lower sex drive or libido and even lead to impotence or erectile dysfunction. Chronic stress can also negatively impact sperm production and maturation, causing difficulties in couples who are trying to conceive. In the males, infections to the testes, prostate gland, and urethra, can affect normal male reproductive functioning.

Stress can impact adolescent girls and women's menstruation in numerous ways. High stress may cause absent or irregular menstrual cycles, painful periods, and cycle duration variations. Women balance personal, family, professional, financial, and other responsibilities throughout their lives. Stress, distraction, weariness, etc., can lower sexual desire, especially when women are caring for small children or other unwell family members, struggling with chronic medical issues, depressed, in relationships or being abused, working, etc.  Women's reproductive planning might be affected by stress. Stress can impair a woman's fertility, pregnancy, and postpartum recovery. Depression is the most common pregnancy and postpartum problem.

7)  Stress and Muscles

When you're under a lot of stress, your muscles are in a state of guardedness all the time. When muscles are tight and tense for a long time, they may cause other body reactions and even make stress-related illnesses worse.

As an example, both tension-type headaches and migraines are linked to long-term muscle stress in the shoulders, neck, and head. Stress, especially stress at work, has also been linked to pain in the lower back and upper limbs.