Stress Effects: How Stress Impacts Your Physical Health

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Over the last few months, you've been working tirelessly on a high-stakes project without much of a break. Or you've spent the last year planning the 'perfect' wedding and still feel overwhelmed about how much is left to be done. Maybe the juggling act of work, the kids and aging parents is taking its toll. Stress comes in many shapes and sizes as do its physical effects on the body. Learn to spot some of stress's most common physical signs before you let it get the better of you.

Stress happens when the body and mind must shift to cope with an environmental, physical or emotional change. While people tend to think of stress as a negative response, in many cases, stress can provide the push you need to finish that task to deadline, cross the finish line even though you're exhausted, or tap into your nervous energy when you have to give a speech.

But if you're exposed to stress over a long period of time, it can cause your body to go into overdrive, or distress, and is thought to affect brain function and encourage the release of hormones. Most well-known is cortisol-a.k.a. the "stress hormone." Studies suggest that elevated cortisol levels over a long period of time can weaken the body's immune system and contribute to many of stress's physical side effects.

Like traffic signals warning you to "slow down" and "stop!" your body provides cues to when your stress has hit its limit through emotional and physical responses. Some of the most common physical links include:

Headaches. Most of us have at least heard of tension headaches and it's no wonder: it's estimated 90 per cent of people have, at some time or another, suffered from a tension headache. A general all-around tightness in the forehead or neck is a common symptom of a headache caused by stress.

Fatigue. Doing too much in too little time? Whether it's crunching numbers or working overtime on the line, the simple fact is overextending yourself physically, mentally or emotionally can not only create extra tension, but wipe you out as well. And because sleep problems like insomnia are also more likely to occur during trying times, your lack of energy could be a byproduct of stress.

Irritability. Extended periods of stress can leave your body and mind less prepared to deal with the challenges life throws at you and blow minor setbacks out of proportion. Crankiness can be further heightened if you're also suffering from other stress symptoms like fatigue.

Chronic pain. Though a short-lived stressful event-watching a scary movie for example-can temporarily help your body "forget" chronic pain, research suggests that extended periods of stress can increase the body's sensitivity to pain.

Skin conditions. Thought that acne breakout before a big event or presentation was just bad luck? It may actually have been caused by stress. Research suggests that cortisol release can up your skin's oil production. Tension can also trigger an autoimmune response that can cause hives and worsen other dermatological conditions like rosacea, eczema and psoriasis.

Weight gain. Because cortisol is linked to the metabolism, the body's release of insulin and maintenance of blood sugar levels, abnormal cortisol levels-caused by extended exposure to stress-may leave you more hungry than usual. And because many people reach for food as comfort during tense times, it's not all that surprising that high-stress living can lead to an expanded waistline.

High blood pressure. While stress seems to only cause temporary spikes in blood pressure, this elevation can be dangerous if you have an underlying condition such as heart disease.

Heart disease. Though scientists have in past had trouble explaining exactly how stress increases the odds of heart disease, (they believe it may partly be physiological and partly due to poor lifestyle choices during stressful times) the evidence shows a very strong link. In fact, a recent U.K. study revealed that workers exposed to chronic work stress doubled their chances of developing heart disease.

High cholesterol. Though the cause is not entirely clear, several studies indicate stress can up LDL or "bad" cholesterol levels. One contributing factor may be that, when stressed, many people tend to make poor health choices around smoking, diet and exercise.

Diabetes. In tense times, one of the main roles of cortisol and epinephrine-both hormones that tend to spike during stressful situations-is to raise blood sugar levels and provide the body with enough of a boost to respond to the event. While stress can't cause diabetes, it can encourage its onset in a person who is already pre-disposed to the disease.

If you're concerned about the physical toll stress is taking on your body, it's always wise to consult a physician or health professional to minimize damage and ensure your symptoms aren't caused by another source.

For quick tips on how to ease emotional and physical tension and shed stress continue on to Stress Effects 2: Tactics To Stave Off Stress found in this microsite.