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While everyone knows that stress can cause general feelings of unease, anxiety and even depression, the physical symptoms of stress can be just as unhealthy. Anything from nosebleeds to hair loss can be pinned on stress, and there are even some studies that are working to discover whether diseases like cancer may grow or spread due to stress. Chronic Headaches While stress-related headaches sometimes seem to be a catch-all when doctors cannot otherwise find a diagnosis, there are actually plenty of reasons why chronic headaches may, in fact, be related to stress. People who are stressed out often clench their jaws or grind their teeth subconsciously, and this puts abnormal pressure on the jaw. After a period of time, the muscles surrounding the jaw and up into the scalp become inflamed, and this can cause pain that resembles a headache. Headaches are only typically considered one of the physical symptoms of stress when they occur chronically, however. Acute stress does not trigger headaches in most individuals. Heart Disease During periods of stress, the heart muscle works overtime to provide additional oxygen-rich blood to various parts of the body. This is because stress causes the release of several hormones, including those responsible for the notorious ‘fight-or-flight’ response. As these hormones—namely adrenaline— are released, individuals breathe faster, their heart rates increase and they may sweat more than normal. Therefore, individuals who experience chronic stress are at a greater risk for developing heart disease. These days, physicians often ask individuals who are under unusual amounts of stress to participate in what is known as a cardiac stress test. This measures how the heart works under physical duress. Chronic Muscle Pain Chronic muscle pain is one of the most notable physical symptoms of stress, and in recent years, there have been prescription medications introduced to the public that are designed to treat stress and depression as well as physical pain. This chronic pain can also be attributed to stress and the release of adrenaline—a hormone that the body produces in response to stress. As adrenaline is released into the bloodstream, muscles all over the body contract in response. Individuals who experience abnormal levels of stress or long periods of stress often report muscle fatigue and pain that does not seem to have any physical cause; some even believe they are having heart attacks in extreme cases. Weight Changes Perhaps one of the most notable physical symptoms of stress, weight changes are very common and can have a detrimental effect on overall health. In some cases, individuals experience nausea, dry heaving and even vomiting as a result of stress. This often causes them to lose their appetite—sometimes for long periods of time. As a result, these individuals lose weight quickly and are often malnourished. Conversely, there are some individuals who eat more than usual in order to attain a feeling of comfort. Unfortunately, the ‘comfort foods’ chosen by people who are stressed out are often high in fat and calories as well as low in nutrition, causing abnormal weight gain that may in turn cause other health issues. Insomnia or Hypersomnia Individuals who experience stress may also suffer from sleep-related issues such as insomnia or hypersomnia. Insomnia is a marked inability to fall asleep or stay asleep— or perhaps both—that lasts for a long period of time. This often occurs because individuals are too worried or anxious to allow the chemicals that are produced naturally within the body in order to cause sleepiness—such as melatonin— work the way they should. Individuals who suffer from hypersomnia experience the exact opposite effect; they may sleep far more frequently than usual in an attempt to escape from the stressors in their lives. Although they may seem quite severe, these physical symptoms of stress are only the tip of the iceberg. Other notable stress-related physical symptoms include tremors, decreased immune response, slowed reflexes and perhaps even chronic high blood pressure. For more information about the physical symptoms of stress visit our website at www.physicalsymptomsofstress.net.
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