How does stress affect different parts of the body? Ways to reduce it

Stress not only affects mental health, but it can also affect physical health. Stress hormones, whenever we feel upset, trigger the body’s fight-or-flight response, making the heart race, breathing labored, and muscles ready for action. Mental health experts say it’s okay to feel this way from time to time, but if it happens on a daily basis, your health could be at serious risk.

Different organs affected by stress

Heart and lungs

Severe stress severely affects the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. During the stress response, we breathe faster to distribute oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. And if we already suffer from a respiratory problem such as asthma, stress makes breathing even more difficult.

Under stress, the heart also starts to pump faster. Stress hormones cause blood vessels to constrict and divert more oxygen to the muscles. This increases blood pressure levels, which increases the risk of having a heart attack.

Stomach and intestine

If you are too eager to lose weight and eat too many calories, you will release too much cortisol (the stress hormone) very quickly. That, according to experts, will cause you to experience digestive problems with symptoms of diarrhea and upset stomach.

There are also some links between chronic stress and certain diseases, including digestive ailments.

Teeth

Stress also causes many problems in oral health. According to doctors, it causes bruxism, which usually occurs during sleep.

You may also experience stiffness and pain in your jaw or mouth, leading to facial swelling.

Sexuality and reproductive system

Stress is not only mentally exhausting, but it can also cause you to lose all desires. It can cause men to decrease their production of the hormone testosterone, which in turn interferes with sperm production and leads to erectile dysfunction or impotence. According to experts, chronic stress also increases the risk of infections in the prostate and testicles.

In women, constant stress affects the menstrual cycle, leading to irregular, heavier and more painful periods. Chronic stress also magnifies the physical symptoms of menopause.

Musculature

High stress causes muscle spasms that lead to fasciculations and tension in the cervical muscles of the neck, leading to persistent headaches. Doctors say you may feel the tension in the muscles that run along your scalp.

Immune system

A sudden increase in stress stimulates the immune system, weakening it and reducing the body’s response to infections. Experts say that those who suffer from chronic stress are more susceptible to viral illnesses such as flu and the common cold, as well as infections.

Stress can also increase the time it takes to recover from illness or injury.

Ways to reduce constant stress

Some simple ways to relieve stress and anxiety, and encourage self-care, include: