{"id":2347,"date":"2018-01-23T18:24:52","date_gmt":"2018-01-23T23:24:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=2347"},"modified":"2025-09-17T13:43:13","modified_gmt":"2025-09-17T17:43:13","slug":"5-surprising-ways-stress-affects-your-body","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/5-surprising-ways-stress-affects-your-body\/","title":{"rendered":"6 surprising ways stress can affect your body"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress. Everyone experiences it from time to time: when a job is too demanding, when you\u2019re preparing for a big life change, or simply when you\u2019re stuck in traffic. As you feel that mental pressure building, your adrenal glands release stress hormones, namely cortisol. Those trigger a fight-or-flight response, a nervous system reaction originally evolved to protect you from a real and present physical danger. It can help in the short term when you\u2019re in the midst of a stressful event, but if it\u2019s triggered in day-to-day life, it can have real consequences on your physical health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"physical-symptoms-of-stress\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical symptoms of stress<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Your body\u2019s stress response triggers common symptoms, like:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Racing or pounding heart rate\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fast breathing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chest pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perspiration<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gastrointestinal or digestive system issues like acid reflux, heartburn, ulcers, upset stomach, or <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">nausea<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">High blood sugar<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Temporary shortness of breath<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulty focusing<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headaches<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insomnia<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decreased sex drive<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mood changes, such as feelings of overwhelm or depression<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/anxiety-attack-vs-panic-attack\/\"><b>Anxiety attack vs. panic attack<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-stress-affects-the-body-over-time\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How stress affects the body over time<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But when your stress is prolonged, chronic stress can result in dangerous health problems. Here are six surprising effects stress may have on the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-hair-loss\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Hair loss\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you ever told someone that you\u2019re so stressed that you\u2019re pulling your hair out? For some, that\u2019s a real condition. Called <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/healthy-lifestyle\/stress-management\/expert-answers\/stress-and-hair-loss\/faq-20057820\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">trichotillomania<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it can occur when a person\u2019s stress levels are so elevated that the only way to find relief comes in the form of pulling out his or her own hair from the scalp, face, or body. Others can experience an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/why-is-my-hair-falling-out\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">involuntary form of hair loss<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> called alopecia areata, where the immune system wages war against the hair follicles, sometimes due to severe stress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/hair-loss-treatment-and-medications\/\"><b>Hair loss treatments and cures<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2-magnesium-deficiency\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Magnesium deficiency<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perhaps one of the lesser-known effects of stress on the body is magnesium deficiency, as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/26591563\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stress hormones deplete your body\u2019s stores over time<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Unfortunately, magnesium is an incredibly crucial mineral for our bodies, and a deficiency can lead to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ods.od.nih.gov\/factsheets\/Magnesium-HealthProfessional\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">muscle cramping, constipation, insomnia, and even mental disorders<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Aside from reducing stress in your day-to-day life, plenty of foods offer magnesium-rich benefits and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/magnesium\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">over-the-counter supplements<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can also help to replenish your levels.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a class=\"cta-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/prescription\/magnesium\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Magnesium coupons<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/magnesium-supplements\/\"><b>Which magnesium supplement is right for me?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3-seizure-like-episodes\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Seizure-like episodes\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some instances, stress can trigger <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ninds.nih.gov\/health-information\/disorders\/epilepsy-and-seizures\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">seizures<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. According to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK441871\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, a significant number of patients who have been admitted with seizure or epileptic types of episodes were actually responding to extreme levels of stress and did not respond to the typical medication administered. These symptoms have been termed psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES), also known as pseudoseizures, and tend to affect those whose life circumstances create an immense amount of stress.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"4-decreased-attraction\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Decreased attraction\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you\u2019re stressed, the last thing on your mind is likely trying to attract someone. But that\u2019s probably good, because <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.yhbeh.2016.12.001\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a study at Binghamton University<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that female rats could sense the emotional state of male rats and were far less attracted to the ones who exhibited high levels of stress. While this study hasn\u2019t been tried on humans, it\u2019s probably best to focus on yourself during times of heightened stress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stress can cause other issues with your reproductive system. High stress levels are frequently associated with low libido. It can even lead to erectile dysfunction in men. For women, stress can lead to fertility problems like irregular menstrual cycles or difficulty conceiving.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>RELATED: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/stress-anxiety-and-erectile-dysfunction\/\"><b>Can stress cause erectile dysfunction?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"5-memory-loss\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Memory loss\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you experience stress, it\u2019s common for you to feel like you can\u2019t remember things, but usually you chalk it up to how much is going on in your life\u2014which is typically the reason for the stress to begin with. However, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedaily.com\/releases\/2008\/03\/080311182434.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">one study found <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">that stress hormones can actually affect the synapses in our brains that are responsible for learning and recalling information. Amazingly enough, when stressors were removed, test subjects were able to better utilize their dendritic spines, the places where the synapses live.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"6-increased-heart-attack-risk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Increased heart attack risk<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Anxiety triggers a spike in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/anxiety-and-blood-pressure\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">blood pressure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It\u2019s usually temporary, but when you\u2019re constantly feeling worried or stressed, you have high blood pressure, or hypertension, over a long period of time. Hypertension applies more force to your blood vessels and is a primary risk factor for heart disease or other cardiovascular problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our mental health newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t<form class=\"form-wrapper\" data-newsletter-form=\"1\" data-subsource=\"Mental Health Newsletter\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"dynamic-email\">Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" id=\"dynamic-email\" class=\"email\" required>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"submit-form-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to sign up\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"success-message\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"how-to-manage-stress\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to manage stress<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you find that your life is riddled with stress and you\u2019re concerned about some of the ways we\u2019ve discovered it can affect you, there are steps you can take to manage stressful situations and improve your well-being.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Watch for warning signs that stress is looming.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Sometimes your body is experiencing stress before you even cognitively recognize it. Certain habits or symptoms might make themselves apparent days before the lightbulb turns on above our heads and you realize what\u2019s going on.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Identify your triggers. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you realize how you specifically manifest stress, take an inventory of what aspects of your life cause these reactions. It might be an encounter with a particular coworker, difficult behavior from one of your children, or financial concerns. With a specific list of triggers, you can then zero in on an approach that works for that situation.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Use breathing techniques.<\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/mind-and-mood\/relaxation-techniques-breath-control-helps-quell-errant-stress-response\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deep breathing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can be an effective strategy for in-the-moment stress when you\u2019re at work, home, or the grocery store. Or try one of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nccih.nih.gov\/health\/meditation\/overview.htm\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">many types of meditation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to further relieve your worrisome thoughts and feelings.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Adopt healthy habits.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> That means making sure you\u2019re getting enough sleep at night and eating a balanced diet.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Seek professional help.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> If you cannot find relaxation through these techniques, it may be time to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/finding-right-medication-doctor-mental-health\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">visit a healthcare pro<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">vider. They can offer additional stress management strategies and or medication. If you have never visited a mental health professional, your primary healthcare provider is a good place to start.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If your mood changes are so severe that you\u2019re experiencing suicidal thoughts, reach out to your healthcare provider or a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/suicidepreventionlifeline.org\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">suicide prevention hotline<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> right away. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.apa.org\/topics\/stress\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Psychological Association<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> also has many resources for dealing with stress.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stress. Everyone experiences it from time to time: when a job is too demanding, when you\u2019re preparing for a big life change, or simply when you\u2019re stuck in traffic. As you feel that mental pressure building, your adrenal glands release stress hormones, namely cortisol. Those trigger a fight-or-flight response, a nervous system reaction originally evolved [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":7977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[450,12496],"coauthors":[8116],"class_list":["post-2347","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-wellness","tag-mental-health","tag-new-year","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.4 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>6 surprising effects of stress on the body<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"From hair loss to convulsions, stress affects more than the mind\u2014it even causes physical pain. 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