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The
Effects of Stress on the Human Body
Your body was designed to respond to
stress for purposes of protection and survival.
When exposed to danger, specific chemicals are released in the brain,
causing your pulse to quicken and your muscles to tense. This prepares you to either fight off an
attacker, or flee to safety. In the
short-term, stress can be good. When the
body is in a tense state over long periods of time however, the effects can be
harmful.
With chronic stress, the chemicals
released in the brain that allow for fight or flight in the short-term may
actually deplete the body over time, weakening the immune system, and
negatively impacting the digestive, excretory and reproductive systems.
Common
Stress-related Symptoms
- Digestive issues
- Headaches
- Sleeplessness,
- Depressed mood,
- Anger and irritability
- Viral infections
- Flu or common cold
- Body aches
- Jaw and neck aches
- Acne and skin problems
- Thinning hair
- Difficulty breathing normally
- Difficulty concentrating
- Forgetfulness
- Rapid heartbeat
- Restlessness
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of libido
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