Is stress truly the #1 killer? According to the American Psychological Association, chronic stress is linked to the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver and suicide. Not to mention, more than 75 percent of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints.
So, why aren’t more people taking stress seriously?
Stress is a natural physical and mental reaction to life experiences. Everyone expresses stress from time to time. But when it becomes a daily habit and turns into chronic stress, it could put your health at serious risk.
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Curious about what it actually does to the body? Here are 16 warning signs that can indicate you’re experiencing chronic stress:
1. Headaches: Stress can trigger and intensify tension headaches.
2. Increased Depression: Chronic stress can wear you down emotionally and lead to depression. 3. Heartburn: Stress increases the production of stomach acid, which could lead to heartburn or make it worse.
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4. Insomnia: Stress makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep, which can lead to insomnia.
5. Rapid Breathing: When you’re stressed, the muscles that help you breathe tense up, which can leave you short of breath.
6. Weakened Immune System: Long-term stress weakens your immune system’s defenses, leaving you more vulnerable to infections.
7. Risk of Heart Attack: Over time, an increased heart rate and high blood pressure damage your arteries, which could lead to a heart attack.8. High Blood Sugar: Stress causes your liver to release extra sugar (glucose) into your bloodstream, which over time puts you at risk for type 2 diabetes.
9. Pounding Heart: Stress hormones make your heart pump faster so that blood can quickly reach your vital organs and limbs.
10. High Blood Pressure: Stress hormones tighten blood vessels, which can raise your blood pressure.
11. Fertility Problems: Stress interferes with the reproductive system in both men and women, and may make it harder to conceive.
12. Stomachache: Stress affects your body’s digestive system, which can lead to stomachaches, nausea, and other tummy troubles. 13. Erectile Dysfunction: Your brain plays an important part in the process of getting an erection. Stress can interfere with this process.
14. Low Sex Drive: Stress, and the fatigue that often comes with it, can take a toll on your libido.
15. Missed Periods: Fluctuating hormones can throw your menstrual cycle off, or in severe cases stop it altogether.
16. Tense Muscles: Stress makes muscles tense up, and chronic stress can lead to tension-related headaches and backaches.
Think you may be experiencing chronic stress? Contact your local doctor for immediate assistance and learn more on our Health Conditions page on BlackDoctor.org.
Tia Muhammad, BS, is an award-winning freelance content & media creative, copywriter, blogger, digital designer, and marketing consultant. She owns the boutique content and digital media company, jackieGLDN|studio.
