Stress is not all bad and according to Ulifeline, there are both benefits and side effects to stress. Some may feel more motivated to complete a task, while others may feel overwhelmed which may cause anxiety or other health-related illnesses. Studies indicate that stress may result in the development of a range of disorders, which is a result of a complex interplay within the body.
These include:
- Peptic ulcers and ulcerative colitis,
- Hypertension,
- Bronchial asthma or hyperventilation,
- Lower back pain and tension headaches,
- Acne,
- Psoriasis, and more.
These disorders may occur when there’s an interchange between immune system imbalances, prolonged overstimulation of normal reactions (like an increased heart rate), and the increased burden on organs.
Dr. Colinda Linde, a clinical psychologist, said a severe side effect of excessive stress is an impaired immune system. Which may lead to an increased risk of being infected with foreign bacteria and viruses. As well as being susceptible to tumours. Another negative impact excessive stress may have is that if you’re being treated for a life-threatening illness, like cancer, recovery will be slowed down.
Also, the cardiovascular system takes a heavy strain. Although stress doesn’t directly cause heart diseases, it may cause hypertension, high cholesterol, changes in blood clotting, and actual heart muscle cell damage. Acute stress events could trigger a heart attack or stroke, however. This is the case for people who are suffering from cardiovascular disease. If we consider that cardiovascular disease is one of the main types of non-communicable diseases that cause death worldwide, this is a serious problem.
The World Heart Federation states that around half of all ischemic strokes are caused by hypertension and that the cause of heart attacks is cholesterol-clogged arteries. A number of studies have shown the link between raised cortisol levels and an unhealthy cholesterol level. Luckily, research has also shown that physical activity is beneficial. This is why the World Heart Federation suggests that you at least do 150-minutes of moderate physical activity weekly, which is about 22-minutes of exercise a day to reduce coronary heart disease risk by 30 per cent.
Cortisol contributes to increased blood sugar levels, constant stress can lead to insulin resistance, Type 2 diabetes, and fat storage in the abdominal area. This places extra pressure on one’s abdominal organs. This can also trigger problems such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation or diarrhea, indigestion, and heartburn/acid reflux, of which contributes to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and peptic ulcers as a result of increased inflammation.
Indulging in unhealthy foods, alcohol, binge-watching, and smoking can increase the body’s toxin burden and deprive you of the nutrients you need to handle stress. In the end, these may also become stressors.
Unnecessary spending or gambling could leave you in debt, while unhealthy eating could lead to weight gain and low self-esteem.
It’s important to find the art of finding the balance. Fortunately, stress is something you can deal with and heal from. According to researchers in a study published in the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, “Psychosocial interventions have proven useful for treating stress-related disorders and may influence the course of chronic diseases”.
Dr. Linde says people need to remember that stress is a reaction to a lack of balance, therefore, if demands are too high or resources are too low. The result is distress. Self-care, nutrition, good sleeping habits, and exercise form part of internal resources, whereas, friends, professional help, and financial savings form part of external resources.
Dr. Linde recommends making a list of your resources and demands, to help identify where you need to improve. By maintaining this balance, it enables you to use the response to stress to help you survive and thrive.
Read more on how the body responds to stress here.
