Its not in your head.
Stress impacts your heart, lungs, gut and more.
Design elements: Getty Images and Adobe Stock.
Photo:Design elements: Getty Images and Adobe Stock. Collage: Cassie Basfor.
Collage: Cassie Basfor.
Lets be real; in this day and age, most people have high levels of stress.
Stress is a natural response to the demands and pressures of life.
Notably, stress can have serious physical, behavioral and mental effects that greatly impact health.
So, stress management is an important part of caring for your health.
The presence of stress hormones like cortisol and epinephrine leads to oxidative stress and inflammation, whichincrease cardiovascular risk.
In extreme cases, this can lead to a heart attack, says Sherwood.
Respiratory System
When stress is high, breathing may become shallow and rapid.
Plus, inflammatory cytokines are released, which increases mucus production and constricts airways.
Hence, whydeep breathing exercisescan often help reduce stress.
Immune System
When the body experiences ongoing stress, the immune system may be weakened.
This, in turn, can increase infection susceptibility and worsen chronic inflammatory diseases, says Sherwood.
Besides IBS, Sherwood says stress can alsoincrease acid reflux.
Musculoskeletal System
Its no secret that stress can cause muscle tension.
Just think of how youd feel about getting a massage after a stressful workweek.
Well, thats due to the cascade of physiological responses that happen when your body experiences stress.
Reproductive System
High stress may stifle sexual desire and reproductive functioning.
It suppresses the release of key reproductive hormones that play a role in testosterone production and ovarian function.
As a result, chronic stress can cause irregular periods, decreased sperm quality and even infertility.
This is called the exhaustion stage of the stress response, which happens when stress becomes chronic.
Other symptoms of this stage include burnout, fatigue and reduced stress tolerance.
Sleep Disturbances
Stress and sleep are a two-way street.
High stress maylead to poor sleep, and poor sleep may increase stress.
If possible, incorporate these into your routine rather than waiting until youre drowning in stress to take action.
Seeing a primary health care provider can be a good place to start, says Sherwood.
If youre dealing with high stress levels, its worth centering de-stressing practices in your wellness routine.
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