In this article, we will discuss how stress complications make you at genuine risk. So, we are going to talk about the complications of stress from several angles and try to figure out what risk factors can be a cause for this or that effect. For example, there are cardiac complications of coronavirus disease or minor and major complications of stress. It’s not just a psychological state, it’s an overall body condition indicating some kind of threat or stress which should become a prevention factor as well.
It is important to know the difference between normal and chronic stress, the latter is not normal and can lead to health problems such as high pressure, Cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. It can also make it difficult to adopt a healthy lifestyle and achieve personal goals. It can cause :
1- Cardiovascular disease:
One of the most common physical effects is cardiovascular disease. Its hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline, and noradrenaline are released into the bloodstream by your adrenal glands during this episode. They cause a heightened state of alertness that increases your heart rate, arterial pressure, and breathing rate, readying you for action. Blood is diverted from non-essential areas like your digestive tract and skin to major muscle groups, increasing your reaction time and strength. This response is what allowed our ancestors to survive the rigors of life in the wild and avoid being eaten or attacked by predators.
It can contribute to Cardiovascular disease in several ways.
Increase in arterial pressure, due to the release of its hormones.
Cause plaque (fatty deposits) to build up in the arteries, which can lead to blockages that stop or slow blood flow to the heart.
Make an existing heart condition worse.
Cause unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, overeating, or drinking too much alcohol.
Stress can be deadly if not dealt with in a healthy way, so I suggest you take it seriously if you want to live a long and healthy life.
2- Diabetes
Its hormones can cause resistance to insulin, the hormone that transports sugar (glucose) into your cells to be used for energy. This results in higher sugar levels.
During times of anguish, you may be less likely to focus on taking care of yourself by eating healthy and exercising regularly. Your body releases excessive amounts of glucose during these times as part of your fight or flight response – your body's way of preparing you to face or flee a perceived threat.
Many people also develop unhealthy coping mechanisms such as smoking and drinking too much alcohol to cope with this ongoing pressure. All of these factors combined make it much more likely that you will develop diabetes or other health conditions such as Cardiovascular disease or high pressure.
It can trigger or worsen diabetes in several ways:
Can make it harder to follow your diabetes care plan by causing you to crave foods that aren't good for you and causing you to skip meals and exercise. Diabetes lowers your immunity, which makes you more vulnerable to infections. If you have diabetes and are stressed, you are at greater risk of infections.
Reduces the effectiveness of insulin. Cortisol, a hormone released during stressful situations, can raise sugar levels and reduce insulin's ability to transport glucose into your body's cells.
Causes unhealthy behaviors. When you're stressed, everything else often takes a back seat. You tend to eat poorly and skip exercise, which can lead to weight gain, a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes. You may also abuse alcohol and drugs when you're stressed, which puts you at an increased risk of health problems.
3- High Blood pressure.
Throughout the day, your blood pressure rises and falls. When you feel anguish, anxiety, or fear, your body goes into "fight or flight" mode. This triggers a surge of hormones that increase your heart rate and arterial pressure. The increased force of blood flowing through your blood vessels can damage their walls, increasing the risk of blood clots, heart attacks, and strokes.
When it is constant, even at low levels, the body is in a heightened state of alert. This can cause chronic high pressure over time.
In addition to a person's immediate response to a stressful situation, chronic stress can lead to long-term changes in the cardiovascular system. These changes can also contribute to hypertension.
4- Digestive issues
It causes the body to produce excess acid which needs to be buffered by alkaline minerals. However, if our diet is poor or we don't exercise regularly, there aren't enough minerals available. This then leads to other problems because the excess acid can damage tissues like the stomach lining and the digestive tract. The body will try to buffer this acid with alkaline minerals from the food we eat or, if necessary, from our own bones and teeth!
Digestive issues are among the most common complaints of chronically stressed people — and for good reason. It can alter the way your body reacts to food. It can also cause the following health problems:
Heartburn, acid reflux, and gastroesophageal reflux disease.
Excessive secretion of gastric acid.
Ulcers in the stomach or intestines.
Chronic gastrointestinal problems, including irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Nervous stomach, indigestion, bloating, gas, constipation or diarrhea.
Heart palpitations and increased heart rate.
5- Weight gain
When we are under a lot of stress, most of us become binge eaters. This occurs as a result of your fight or flight response, also known as survival mode, in which your body does what it needs to do after reaching a level of anxiety. In the majority of situations, this involves overeating.
One of the most common issues is weight gain, and it's no surprise. He can :
Trigger cravings for junk foods high in fat and sugar.
Causes increased production of cortisol and insulin, which leads to fat storage and weight gain.
making you more likely to seek out unhealthy foods in the first place.
Lead to less sleep, especially when it comes to deep, restorative sleep.
Lead to emotional eating that has nothing to do with hunger or need.
Causes a whole host of other health problems that can affect your energy level, weight, and quality of life.
Adopt a few healthy practices to assist you to get back to your former self if you believe your weight has increased due to anguish. Eat well, stay active, and do things that relax and bring you joy.
Don't let stress take over your life, it's a natural part of life, but there are ways to control it.
6- depression and anxiety:
Genetics, brain chemicals, and your life situation are all possible reasons for depression. You may be at risk of developing depression if you can't manage well with chronically stressful life situations. There's also mounting evidence that poor coping, anguish and physical sickness are linked.
It is directly linked to many mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and substance abuse, as well as various physical health issues such as headaches, muscle aches, and digestive issues.
It can sensitize the brain to the effects of cortisol, which is the primary hormone involved in feeling responses. This means that over time, people who experience high levels are more likely to develop depression.
It increases activity in the amygdala (a part of the brain that processes emotions) and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex (a part of the brain needed for rational thought), making it harder for people to control their emotional responses. This makes them more likely to behave impulsively or aggressively towards themselves or others when under pressure.
When we feel stressed, we tend to focus on negative thoughts about ourselves.
7- Alzheimer's disease:
Alzheimer's disease is a form of madness that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. Symptoms normally appear gradually and intensify over time, interfering with daily activities.
An increased risk of Alzheimer's disease is associated with stress. This is because chemicals released by the brain during times of anxiety can kill brain cells, making the brain more vulnerable to Alzheimer's disease. It also causes inflammation in the body, which increases the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
8- sleep problems.
- It can cause sleep problems. If you're worried about upcoming tests or deadlines, you may find that you have trouble sleeping. This may be because you worry too much at night before bed, or it may be because anxiety hormones keep your body on high alert. You can combat this by getting enough sleep and taking time to relax.
- It's no secret that many of us don't get enough sleep. In fact, one in three adults does not get the minimum number of recommended sleep periods each night. While we may feel like we're doing "just fine" getting less than the suggested 7-9 hours a night, our bodies and minds may not be as understanding.
- According to researchers, the short-term effects of insufficient or inadequate sleep include difficulty with memory and concentration, increased risk of accidents, reduced performance in school or work, and impaired judgment, mood, and reaction time. However, the long-term effects are even more serious.
Taking care of yourself and controlling what stresses you can help you resolve these issues.
9- Asthma:
Shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing are all symptoms of asthma, which is a persistent inflammation of the airways.
When you're in pain, the muscles in your airways constrict. As a result, breathing becomes more difficult.
If your asthma symptoms are triggered by emotional anguish, try to set aside time each day to relax. You might want to try something like yoga or meditation. These activities are designed to help train the mind and body to deal with stressful situations without worrying too much about them. You might also find it helpful to talk with your friends and family about events that are happening in your life that might be causing you anxiety.
So how does stress affect asthma?
It affects asthma by causing changes in the brain and body. During these times, the body produces extra adrenaline, which causes the muscles around the airways to tighten and reduce the amount of oxygen flowing to the lungs. These changes prevent people with asthma from breathing normally and can trigger an asthma attack. The good news is that anguish management techniques can help improve your asthma symptoms.
It is important to note that it is not the only one that causes physical changes leading to breathing problems, but emotional reactions such as fear or anxiety can also exacerbate an existing case of asthma. Even if you don't have an actual physical blockage in your airways, you may still have breathing problems due to a panic attack or some other type of emotional response.
10- Hair loss
Researchers experimentally exposed mice to noise stress and discovered that it triggered early anagen shutdown, or the growth phase of the hair cycle, in order to examine the link between severe stress and hair loss. This study backed up the theory that stress disturbs the hair follicle's natural cycle, resulting in hair loss.
There are, however, a few items that can aid in general hair health. Eat a well-balanced diet and, most importantly, get enough protein (0.8 g/kg/day). Because hair is largely made up of protein (keratin), it's no surprise that getting adequate protein is essential for maintaining and growing hair. Also, stay away from hairstyles that are too tight, excessive heat styling, or chemical treatments, as these can contribute to hair loss or breakage.
So stress can cause one of two types of hair loss:
- Alopecia Areata: Alopecia areata is stress-related hair loss in which white blood cells attack hair follicles. Hair falls out within weeks (usually in patches) with this form of hair loss, although it can affect the entire scalp and even body hair. Hair can grow back on its own, but it can also require treatment.
- Telogen Effluvium: In this less severe type of hair loss, the hair stops growing and remains dormant for 8 or 12 weeks before falling out. After that, it regrows between 24 to 36 weeks.
CONCLUSION
When we look at the above statement it is quite evident how the complications of stress through the eyes of different people. Stress is a disorder that mainly occurs due to some underlying factors such as examinations, work pressure, family problems, financial problems, drug addiction, and so on. In some cases, stress may also occur due to general anxiety, phobia, sleep disorder, and knowledge deficiency.
The complications of stress can be resolved by certain techniques like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercise in medical terms it can be resolved by medicines and diet pills. The only way you can feel less stressed out is by taking care of your body by following a healthy lifestyle because if your body is disease-free your mind will remain calm and stress-free.