Physiological Symptoms of Stress

Stress can play havoc with your health, worsening or causing a host of physical ailments. A 2007 survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that one-third of Americans are suffering from extreme stress. Seventy-seven percent of those surveyed reported experiencing physical symptoms related to stress. Effective stress management techniques are the key to reducing your stress level and maintaining good health.

Identification

• Stress occurs when you feel threatened or overwhelmed. As your stress level rises, so does your heart rate and blood pressure. Your blood sugar level also soars in an attempt to provide your body with more energy in case you need to flee. Blood clotting occurs more quickly in order to prevent too much blood loss should you be injured. As your stress level rises, your large muscles begin to receive increased quantities of blood to provide more strength if you are attacked. While all of these things would be helpful if you were being chased by a mountain lion, your body does not distinguish between real and perceived threats and reacts the same way whether you're facing an animal attack or an irate boss. If these responses become a daily part of your life, you may begin to experience health problems.

How Stress Causes Illness

• When you are continually stressed, almost every system in your body is negatively impacted. Your immune system may become suppressed, causing you to catch viruses that you would normally be able to fight off. An elevated blood pressure level can greatly increase your risk of heart disease, heart attack or stroke. Feeling stressed can affect your ability to become pregnant. You may even notice that you starting to look older when you are under chronic stress.

Physiological Symptoms

• Symptoms of stress include headache, neck or back pain, dizziness, rashes, hives, nausea, diarrhea, passing gas, sweating, ringing or buzzing in the ears, swallowing problems, shaking hands or feet, dry mouth, heartburn, constipation, stomach pain, gas, frequent urination, trouble breathing, palpitations, chest pains, sleep disturbances, low libido or problems with sexual performance, and weight gain or loss. Living with stress can cause heart disease, autoimmune disorders, skin disorder, digestive problems and chronic pain.

Psychological Symptoms

• The psychological symptoms can be just as dangerous as the physical manifestations of stress. You may notice that you have difficulty concentrating and often feel disorganized and overwhelmed by routine tasks. You may feel lonely and worthless, and in extreme cases, even think about suicide. Your stress level may negatively affect your relationships with your family and friends, particularly if you begin to overreact to minor annoyances, become defensive or hostile or withdraw from relationships. The longer you experience significant stress, the greater the chances that you will begin to seek relief from your stress by abusing drugs, alcohol or cigarettes or participating in self-destructive activities.

Managing Stress

• Regaining your physical health requires reducing or eliminating the stressors in your life in combination with changing the way you react to stress. Exercise, joining activities, sharing your concerns with a friend, and learning relaxation techniques can help reduce your stress level. In some cases, the only way to reduce stress is to remove yourself from the stressful situation, such as in the case of a difficult job situation. Psychological or psychiatric counseling and support groups can be very helpful if you aren't able to reduce your stress level on your own.