As we’ve mentioned before in previous entries, stress is known to be detrimental to your health in several ways.
The most noticeable negative effects are psychological, such as frequent irritability, lack of enthusiasm and depression. However, your body can also be affected, causing chronic diseases or making existing conditions worse.
That’s why in this article, we’ve decided to delve further into these physical effects, so you can see the bigger picture of how serious stress can actually be.
These are the top 7 diseases usually associated with continual, long-term stress.
1. Weight Management and Gastrointestinal Problems
Eating disorders are classified as serious mental illnesses because their roots and treatments are mainly psychological. However, we cannot ignore the impact they may cause on your body.
Many people’s reaction to stress is to reach out for sweets and junk food or carbohydrates for that short-term burst of satisfaction. Some people react the opposite, they lose their appetite and skip meals when they’re stressed.
These abnormal eating habits not only considerably affect your weight, but they can alter gastrointestinal bacteria and stomach acids, triggering diseases, such as GERDS, esophagitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and even ulcers.
2. Viruses
Constant high levels of the stress hormone cortisol can affect your immune system. As a consequence, you’d get sick faster and more frequently than others. Common cold and seasonal viruses are very easy to catch when you’re stressed out.
It also becomes more difficult to fight off these illnesses and go back to being healthy again, because your immune system is the one in charge to cure you.
3. Circulatory Problems
When you’re going through a stressful situation, your arteries and veins will tighten up and reduce blood flow throughout the body. The stress hormone will also cause sudden rises in blood pressure, which will strain your blood vessels’ walls.
If your body is constantly under stress, this may cause problems, like poor circulation, blood clots, or even strokes.
4. Diabetes
Diabetes happens to be one of the most frequent illnesses affected by stress. People with this disease have to be very careful with keeping their blood sugar levels under control. Stress can make this very difficult.
In order to elicit stress’ fight-or-flight response, your body needs to fire up your muscles with energy from glucose, which cannot be processed properly if you have diabetes. This means glucose will accumulate in your bloodstream, causing blood sugar levels to rise, which can be very dangerous for people with diabetes.
5. Heart Problems
Elevated heart rate is one of the main symptoms of stress. This irregularity in palpitations can cause increased blood pressure and make your heart wear out faster.
Other unhealthy habits usually associated with stress, such as smoking, overeating, and lack of exercise, also contribute to having heart problems, which can make you more prone to suffer cardiovascular events like heart attacks or strokes.
How to Prevent the Health Consequences of Stress?
If you’re currently affected by stress and need an extra hand to help you fight it off, you might want to try some supplements designed to do so.
Nature’s Discount recommends*:
- Stress Wellness With Ashwagandha (60 vegetarian capsules) by Bio Nutrition.
- CBD Oil – Mint, 250mg (30ml) by Canna Onia.
- Magnesium Gummies (120 gummies) by Trace Minerals.
If you’d like to know more about stress and how to manage it, check out this article!
*Products may vary per island
