Stress and anxiety are common challenges that affect everyone, often only becoming noticeable once symptoms reach a breaking point. While stress and anxiety are typically categorized as mental health disorders their influence extends far beyond the mind and plays a significant role in various physical health conditions.
As mental and physical health become increasingly interconnected, it’s apparent that mental health conditions can aggravate lifestyle diseases. In this discussion, we explore how mental health conditions such as stress and anxiety can contribute to and worsen chronic diseases.
Stress and anxiety
Stress is the body's reaction to harmful situations - whether they’re real or perceived. This reaction is known as "fight-or-flight” or the stress response. During this stress response heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten and blood pressure rises.
Anxiety is a normal emotion. It is brain’s way of reaction to stress and alerting us of potential danger ahead. Everyone experiences this feeling in many of day today activities like facing problems at work, before taking test and before making important decisions.
Our bodies are designed to handle small doses of stress. But we are not equipped to manage the long term chronic stress without experiencing negative effects
Consequences of long term stress and anxiety
Mild stress and anxiety are common and typically managed by the body itself. However, when stress and anxiety become chronic they can lead to or aggravate a variety of serious health issues impacting nearly every system of the body.
Cardiovascular system
Chronic stress and anxiety can cause elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate and buildup of plaque in the arteries all of which heighten the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.
Respiratory system
The respiratory system delivers oxygen to the body’s cells and eliminates carbon dioxide waste. Stress and intense emotions can trigger shortness of breath and rapid breathing, which may worsen breathing difficulties for individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions like asthma and COPD.
Endocrine system
Chronic stress leads to overproduction of steroid hormones known as glucocorticoids especially cortisol often called the "stress hormone". In many chronic illnesses cortisol levels remain elevated and this prolonged rise can contribute to conditions such as diabetes and obesity. Chronic stress also heightens insulin resistance which in turn can lead to diabetes.
Gastrointestinal system
Stress can cause individuals to either eat much more or much less than usual and increased consumption of different foods or alcohol may lead to acid reflux or heartburn. It can also trigger abdominal pain, bloating and vomiting. Chronic stress is known to exacerbate conditions such as GERD, ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome.
Reproductive system
Chronic stress can disrupt testosterone levels leading to decrease in sex drive and potentially causing erectile dysfunction in men. In women it can also result in menstrual irregularities.
Skin
Chronic stress can lead to various skin and hair issues, including acne, psoriasis, eczema and even permanent hair loss.
Conclusion
Stress is a constant in our lives with many stressors and a variety of responses. The key to living a life with less stress is learning how to manage those responses effectively.
Our say,
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