KOMPAS.com – Stress is the body’s response to things that our minds perceive as dangerous.
Multiple triggers stress it can indeed encourage us to take positive actions, such as looking for a job when we are fired.
However, too much stress can suppress the immune system and make us prone to getting sick.
Prolonged stress can also increase the risk of several diseases, including heart disease and cancer.
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Stress can cause a number of physical symptoms and ailments. However, these symptoms usually go away once stress levels drop.
The following are various symptoms that appear when stressed:
- increased heart rate
- increased blood pressure
- rapid breathing
- hard to breathe
- muscle tension
- headache
- nausea
- dizzy.
Often experiencing stress or high stress levels can make us experience various diseases.
Here are various diseases that arise due to stress:
1. Fever
Chronic stress and exposure to emotional events can cause psychogenic fever.
Psychogenic fever is a fever caused by psychological factors, not viruses or other inflammatory causes.
Psychogenic fever can happen to anyone who is under stress, but it most commonly affects young women.
2. Flu
2012 research has shown that chronic stress can inhibit the body’s inflammatory response.
As a result, the immune system weakens and we are prone to infection.
That is why, prolonged or too high exposure to stress can increase the risk of infection with the virus that causes flu.
3. Indigestion
Stress can hinder our digestive function which can lead to various health problems such as the following:
- stomach ache
- nausea
- diarrhea
- constipation.
Stress has also been shown to worsen symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome and increase in acid reflux.
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4. Depression
Research has shown stress can trigger depressive symptoms. This is because stress unbalances several brain chemicals, including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
Stress can also trigger an increase in cortisol levels. This imbalance of brain chemicals can trigger a variety of negative effects such as the following:
- mood disorders
- sleep disorder
- decreased libido.
5. Obesity
Stress is believed to play a big role in obesity. Research has shown stress can trigger increased cortisol levels which contribute to weight gain.
Stress can also trigger our appetite which also increases our chances of being obese.
In fact, obesity is a risk factor for several diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
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