Stress and your body: 8 ways in which stress can harm you

Work stress, job stress, student stress, financial stress or family stress, all kinds of stress do some damage to the body. Stress comes naturally to all human beings but managing stress is in our hands. Stress can lead to major health complications which you wouldn’t have imagined. Heart diseases, digestion problems and blood pressure are some of the physical effects of stress. Although it is okay to stress for a short while but prolong stress can cause severe health complications.

Stress can harm your body

Here is a list of physical effects of stress on your body.

Stress can lead to stomach ailments like bloating, cramps, acidity and heartburn. When you are stressed, you crave junk and unhealthy food which is again bad for your body. It upsets the stomach to the extent that you don’t feel like eating anymore. Stress also affects the way the food moves in your body causing constipation and diarrhea.

Stress causes skin reactions. Breakouts, acne, rashes or pimples develop on your skin due to stress.

Stress can cause acne and rashes

Stress can affect the entire cardiovascular system. When you are under stress, your heart pumps faster and elevates your blood pressure. It also causes chest pain. However stress does not cause heart attack directly but it contributes towards it.

It is very important for your body to receive sufficient sleep to stay healthy. Stress disturbs the sleep cycle. Most people dealing with stress find it difficult to sleep. Sleep is important when you experience stress as your mind needs to relax.

Stress affects your muscular system. When you are under stress, your muscles tighten themselves in order to protect your body. Prolonged stress can cause muscle pain as the muscles do not get the time to relax. When you relax, your muscles relax too. If you stress for too long, tightened muscles can cause headaches, shoulder and back pain.

Muscular & Chest pain

Long term stress can weaken your immunity system. This makes you prone to diseases and infections easily.

Due to excess stress and stress hormones in your body, the menstrual cycle of most women is disturbed or stopped completely. Stress can cause delayed periods. It can makes your period more painful and increase your vaginal discharge.

Period pain

Severe stress can make it hard for both men and women to conceive. It can mess with your sperm count and ovulation.

Short-term or acute stress comes to every individual. Well, you cannot stop stressing completely but make efforts to reduce it. Severe stress or chronic stress is likely to cause the above effects. It is okay to stress for a short period but long term stress can take a toll on your health.