Effects of stress on our physical body

Our bodies are well equipped to handle stress in small doses, but when that stress becomes long-term or chronic, it can have serious effects on your body.

Musculoskeletal system

• When the body gets stressed, muscles tense up. Muscle tension is almost a reflex reaction to stress it’s the body’s way of guarding against injury and pain.
• With the sudden onset of stress, the muscles tense up all at once and then release their tension when the stress passes. Chronic stress causes the muscles of the body to be in a more or less constant state of guardedness.
• Both tension-type headaches and migraine headaches are associated with chronic muscle tension in the shoulders, neck, and head. Musculoskeletal pain in the lower back and upper extremities has also been linked to stress.

Respiratory system

• Stress and strong emotions can present with respiratory symptoms, such as shortness of breath and rapid breathing.
• Acute stress such as the death of a loved one can trigger asthma attacks. In addition, the rapid breathing or hyperventilation caused by stress can bring on a panic attack in someone prone to panic attacks.

Cardiovascular system

• Chronic stress, or constant stress experienced over a prolonged period of time, can contribute to long-term problems in the heart and the blood vessels.
• The consistent and ongoing increase in the heart rate, and the elevated levels of stress hormones and of blood pressure, can take a toll on the body. Long-term ongoing stress can increase the risk of hypertension, heart attack, or stroke.
• Repeated acute stress or persistent chronic stress may also contribute to inflammation in the circulatory system, particularly in the coronary arteries, and this is one pathway that is thought to tie stress to a heart attack.

Endocrine system

• When someone perceives a situation to be challenging, threatening, or uncontrollable, it results in an increase in the production of steroid hormones called glucocorticoids, which include cortisol, often referred to as the “stress hormone”.
• During a stressful event, increased cortisol can provide the energy required to deal with a prolonged or extreme challenge.
• It is valuable during stressful or threatening situations where injury might result in increased immune system activation, chronic stress can result in impaired communication between the immune system and the HPA axis.
• The impaired communication may lead to the future development of numerous physical and mental health conditions, including chronic fatigue, metabolic disorders depression, and immune disorders.

Gastrointestinal system

• Stress is associated with changes in the gut bacteria which in turn can influence mood. Thus, the nerves and bacteria in the gut strongly influence the brain and vice versa.
• Stress or exhaustion may also increase the severity of regularly occurring heartburn pain.
• Stress also may make food swallowing difficult or increase the amount of air that is swallowed, which increases burping, gassiness, and bloating.
• Stress can make pain, bloating, nausea, and other stomach discomfort felt more easily.
• Stress can cause an unnecessary increase or decrease in appetite. Unhealthy diets may lead to mood deterioration.
• Stress can affect digestion and nutrients that the intestines absorb

Nervous system

• Chronic stress, experiencing stressors over a prolonged period of time, may result in a long-term drain on the body. As the autonomic nervous system continues to trigger physical reactions, it will cause a wear-and-tear on the body.
• Continuous activation of the nervous system due to stress can impact other bodily systems that can become problematic.

Male reproductive system

• Excess amounts of cortisol due to stress can affect the normal biochemical functioning of the male reproductive system.
• Chronic stress can affect testosterone production resulting in a decline in sex drive or libido
• Chronic stress can also negatively impact sperm production and maturation, which might cause difficulties in couples who are trying to conceive.
• Whenever stress affects the immune system, the body can become vulnerable to infection. Infections to the testes, prostate gland, and urethra can affect male reproductive functioning.

Female reproductive system

• High levels of stress can be associated with absent or irregular menstrual cycles, more painful periods, and changes in the length of cycles.
• Stress, distraction, fatigue, etc., may reduce sexual desire especially when women are simultaneously caring for young children or other ill family members, coping with chronic medical problems, feeling of depression, experiencing relationship difficulties or abuse, dealing with work problems, etc.
• Stress can negatively impact the woman’s ability to conceive, the health of her pregnancy, and her postpartum adjustment. Depression is the leading complication of pregnancy and postpartum adjustments.
• Stress may make premenstrual symptoms worse or more difficult to cope with and pre-menses symptoms may be stressful for many women.
• When stress is high, there is an increased chance of exacerbation of symptoms in the reproductive disease states, such as herpes simplex virus or polycystic ovarian syndrome.