Stress has the power to wreak havoc on your body and your mental health. According to a study by The Harris Poll, stress levels among American adults are on the rise. With the past several years of global events, this isn’t much of a surprise.
Financial stress in American adults is at its highest in 15 years, and 87% of poll participants said that inflation was a source of significant stress for them. But what impact is this stress having on people’s health?
Stress isn’t fun to feel in the moment — the tight stomach, headache and racing thoughts are horrible to experience. But repeated stress can have serious long-term effects on the body, and may exacerbate health conditions that can negatively impact your quality of life.
Asthma
If you are a person living with asthma, then you are well aware that strong emotions can act as a trigger for an asthma attack. Even people who do not have asthma experience changes in their breathing when experiencing strong feelings of anger, anxiety, stress and sadness.
If your stress is triggering more regular asthma attacks, then there are several methods you can use to reduce the impact of your stress on your life. These methods include:
- Mindful breathing: Mindful breathing is used by people with many conditions and struggles, including asthma and anxiety. When mindful breathing, breathe in for seven seconds, hold your breath for seven seconds, and breathe out for seven seconds. Try to focus all of your attention on your breath.
- Observation: Choose something to observe. This can be something in nature, such as a tree or flower. It can also be something on your body, like your own hand or your foot. Observe it, focus all of your attention on it, and use this focus as a means to let go of whatever is stressing you out.
By learning how to manage your stress and your breathing, you can reduce the impact that stress has on your asthma.
Anxiety
Long-term, increased levels of stress can have a strong impact on people with anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, social anxiety disorder and phobias. Having an anxiety attack or panic attack can be a scary experience, and if you have an anxiety disorder, increased stress may cause more frequent attacks.
Managing anxiety and chronic stress is hard to do alone, and trying to do so may be overwhelming. Working with a licensed counselor or therapist can help you find healthy coping mechanisms and reduce the impact your anxiety has on your quality of life.
Cardiovascular disease
Psychological stress has been shown to have a strong impact on your heart health. Prolonged mental stress causes your body to release hormones that elevate your heart rate and blood pressure. This elevation creates increased strain on your cardiovascular system, and may lead to cardiovascular disease.
One excellent way to reduce stress and limit your risk of developing cardiovascular disease is by exercising daily. Walking every day can improve your balance, reduce your stress, strengthen your heart and help you maintain a healthy weight.
Diabetes
Stress may impact the ways that diabetes affects your life. Many people with diabetes feel a great deal of stress after their initial diagnosis, and this stress can influence how a person takes care of themselves. In short, stress may have a direct impact on your blood sugar.
If you are living with diabetes and stress, there are several ways you can improve your quality of life.
- Exercise: Moving regularly is a great way to reduce stress and focus on your health. Your exercise routine can be as simple as going for a walk around the block once a day.
- Healthy diet: Watching what you eat and learning about how food can impact your blood sugar is a vital part of living with diabetes. If you are dealing with stress, avoiding foods and drinks with excess caffeine or alcohol will be helpful.
By limiting your stress, you can improve your diabetes symptoms significantly. Aside from exercise and a healthy diet, consider meditation or community involvement as a way to cope with stress and diabetes.
Depression
Stress may worsen the symptoms of depression and seasonal affective disorder. These conditions, in and of themselves, are already stressful, and can limit a person’s ability to care for themselves, work and socialize. When additional stressors are introduced, depressive symptoms may increase significantly.
If you are struggling with depression or seasonal affective disorder, and you feel that stress is exacerbating your symptoms, there are treatment options. The most common recommendation is therapy. Working with a psychologist, therapist or counselor can help you to work through your feelings of depression and learn coping mechanisms for depression and stress that work best for you.
Eye diseases
Stress may cause or contribute to the progression of eye diseases such as glaucoma and optic neuropathy. High levels of stress cause your body to release an abundance of cortisol. This substance may interfere with your eyes and brain, leading to vision problems.
If you are worried that your stress is affecting your eyesight, then making an appointment with a qualified eye doctor will help. Your doctor will examine you, discuss your stress and vision problems, and find the best solutions.
Headaches
According to medical experts at the Mayo Clinic, headaches are more likely to occur when you are stressed. For most people, stress is a common trigger for many different types of headaches.
Learning to manage your stress may limit the number of headaches you experience. Mindfulness practices such as meditation, deep breathing and yoga are effective coping mechanisms. You could also look at simplifying your schedule, taking a step back in work or your social life, and eating healthy foods.
Gastrointestinal diseases
For many people, one of the most immediate symptoms of stress is gastrointestinal issues. You may feel like your stomach is twisted in knots or nauseous in the face of stress. In the moment, your gastrointestinal issues may be small. During a stressful workweek, you might have few bowel movements or some acid reflux.
Prolonged stress can lead to the formation of ulcers or even irritable bowel syndrome. You may also develop chronic heartburn.
Stress can have so many negative effects on your health. From your eyesight to your heart health, there are multiple ways stress can impact your life. By reducing stress, you can also reduce the severity of many conditions that cause impairment, pain or even death. Learning to manage your stress will help you have a better quality of life.