Terrible Symptoms Of Stress On The Body

Everyone experiences stress since it's a natural reaction to various life situations. Stress can be beneficial at times, but it can also be detrimental to your physical and mental health, among others. Here are stress symptoms you should look out for so you can protect yourself.

RELATED: 13 Relaxation Techniques To Reduce Stress

9 Stress Symptoms to Watch Out For

1. High Blood Sugar

When faced with stressful events, your body copes by making sure that adequate sugar or energy is available. This triggers your liver to produce more glucose and release it to your bloodstream.

However, stress also causes your insulin levels to decrease and your stress hormones to rise. This leads to an increase in your blood sugar. Eventually, it will put you at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

2. Elevated Blood Pressure

Stress stimulates your brain to release a surge of hormones, such as cortisol, that narrow your arteries. With this, your heart needs to pump faster and work harder so that blood can circulate and reach your organs quickly.

This makes you feel like your heart is pounding. Your heart rate increases, and your blood pressure spikes. That's why it's not unusual when someone experiences a heart attack or stroke due to stress.

3. Acne

One of the most obvious symptoms of stress is acne.

For some people, they can't help but frequently touch their face when stressed. This causes germs to spread, which can lead to acne.

A study also measured changes in acne among students who took an exam. It was found out that more severe acne was linked to the stress brought about by the exam.

4. Weak Immune System

Stress compromises the defenses of your immune system. It decreases the response of your body to foreign particles. This makes you sick more often and leaves you prone to future infections.

For instance, a study was conducted among adults who received a flu vaccine. Participants who were stressed had a weaker response to the vaccine. This shows that chronic stress is related to decreased immunity.

Another study reveals that people with higher levels of stress experienced more infections with symptoms that lasted longer. This suggests that stress also makes it longer for you to recover from illnesses.

5. Insomnia

When you're stressed, there's a tendency for you to overthink. This can disrupt your sleeping habits and make it difficult for you to fall and stay asleep. And since sleep is vital to your overall health, insomnia can affect your day-to-day activities.

Dealing with this sleep disorder can cause stress as well, making it hard to break the stress-insomnia cycle. Your inability to sleep is in itself can be a source of stress, which can leave you feeling more stressed.

6. Anxiety

When there's a situation that makes you feel afraid or nervous, you may get stressed, and anxiety may be your response to that stress.

When you're feeling anxious, you may experience the following symptoms:

• Jitteriness
• Panic
• Irritability
• Headache
• Sweating
• Muscle tension
• Dizziness
• Difficulty concentrating

RELATED: 8 Effective Ways to Relieve Stress at Your Desk

7. Digestive Problems

Stress has negative effects on your digestive tract. The rush of your hormones may affect how the food passes through your body.

This can upset your tummy. Vomiting, abdominal pains, bloating, diarrhea, and other stomach troubles are physical symptoms of stress.

A study reveals that participants who were exposed to stressful situations had a higher risk of constipation. Another study also shows that daily stress is linked to an increase in digestive discomfort.

8. Slow Wound Healing

Stress can cause a rise in your hormone levels. These hormones can delay the release of specific compounds to the area where you're injured.

That's why it's recommended that a patient shouldn't be stressed before undergoing surgery. Stress can cause wounds to heal much longer and lead to infections during the recovery period. And since complications may arise, it can even result in longer hospital stays and a slow return to your daily activities.

9. Changes in Appetite

It isn't surprising to see people who are stressed either lose or gain weight. This is because you either lose your appetite or overeat when stressed out.

A study shows that a whopping 81% of participants felt appetite changes under stressful situations. Of these, 38% experienced a decline in their appetite, while 62% always felt hungry.

Another study also reveals that those who were exposed to stress still ate even though they weren't hungry. This may cause you to make unhealthy food choices and give in to your cravings for comfort foods. That's why when stressed, there's a tendency for you to grab a bag of chips instead of fruits and vegetables.

Ways to Relieve Stress

1. Get Some Rest

Feeling tired would just cause your stress levels to rise. It's important that you get quality sleep since it recharges both your mind and body. When you get your rest, you'll feel alert and refreshed.

However, if you're having problems falling or staying asleep, there are several tips on how you can get better rest.

For instance, you must avoid bright screens and limit your caffeine intake before bedtime. Additionally, try to go to bed and wake up at consistent times.

2. Be Active

Increase your activity level so you could manage your stress and feel better. Daily exercise can boost your mood and help you distract yourself from thinking negative thoughts. It can also aid in weight control and lessen your risk of developing heart diseases.

You may do swimming, running, walking, and dancing for at least 30 minutes per day to improve your physical and mental energy. You may do stretching as well to reduce muscle tension and body aches, which are also symptoms of stress.

3. Eat Healthily

You must watch what you eat as food can either uplift or worsen your mood. It also has an effect on your ability to handle stress.

A diet that consists of high-sugar snacks, processed food, and refined carbs can aggravate symptoms of stress. On the other hand, eating meals that are rich in vitamins and minerals can help you survive a rough day.

With lots of things happening now, many people experience increased stress, which could affect your body. Watch this video by Health Magazine as they take a deep dive into stress symptoms, particularly fever:

Don't let your body and mind pay a high price due to stress. Keep in mind these stress symptoms, and take action to avoid major damage to your body systems.

What stress symptoms have you already experienced? Please share your thoughts with us in the comment section below!

Up Next: 

• 17 Fun & Relaxing Activities For Men Over 50
• 7 Fun Art Therapy Ideas To Help You Relax
• Testicular Cancer Survivor, Matt Ode, Shares His Story of Hope, Purpose, and “Winning the Day” [PODCAST]

Calling all Health Buffs! If you’ve got the gift of keeping healthy and sharing this knowledge through writing, click here if you want to write for us.

Please stay connected with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest, and make sure to join our community of healthy living and minded people here.