Stress is a mental health issue that can cause you to experience frequent bouts of nervousness, irritability, loss of interest in work, and mood disorders. If this state of stress persists for a long time, if not taken care of, then due to this the risk of depression also increases. But do you know that in this situation, stress is not only limited to mental health disorders, but its many side effects start appearing on the body as well?
The researchers reported in the study that chronic or long-lasting stress can increase the risk of a variety of problems ranging from heart health, blood pressure, muscle problems, diabetes, and many more. Stress can also weaken your immune response, which in turn affects your ability to fight diseases.
Its effect on the cardiovascular system
The most adverse effect of chronic stress has been seen on the cardiovascular system. In the event of stress, the amount of adrenaline hormone starts increasing in your bloodstream. This puts your heart and other vital organs on high alert, increasing heart rate and blood pressure. There may also be a risk of increasing blood sugar problems due to adrenaline.
Problems in muscles
As your stress levels rise, your muscles may start to show their effects. Migraine and shoulder or neck pain can occur due to the problem of muscle stiffness. With increased muscle tension, increased levels of the hormone cortisol due to stress can cause muscle tissue to atrophy, increasing the risk of musculoskeletal problems and chronic pain.
Risk of respiratory problems
Shortness of breath or rapid breathing is a common physical symptom of stress. However, if stress persists for a long time, it can also cause restlessness, asthma, or panic attacks. The problem of stress weakens your immune response, due to which the risk of recurring diseases like flu increases significantly compared to before. You may have frequent panic attacks.
Maybe hormone imbalance
There is a network of the endocrine system that helps in releasing hormones from hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal etc. glands. Stress can also affect the release of these hormones. Many hormones in the body can be too much or less, due to which the entire function of the body starts deteriorating. This condition can lead to mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD.
(PC: Freepik)
