The best post to write during finals week? One on stress of course!
There are 2 different types of stress: Acute vs. Chronic
1.) Acute stress (short-term stress) is an instant response to a demanding/dangerous situation. The body’s stress level is dependent upon the intensity of stress, duration, and coping mechanisms. The body usually recovers quickly from this type. Factors such as frequency and keeping the body from recovering hold the body back from healing. These factors can cause arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats) or heart attacks.
2.) Chronic stress (long-term stress) is caused by stressful situations lasting a long period of time, such as a difficult job or chronic diseases. Chronic stress and chronic diseases can create a cycle, in which each worsens the other.
How stress affects you is dependent on your personality, what your family has taught you about responding to stress, social support, coping strategies, how you handle stress, and how you think about stress.
Overall, stress affects your body by these features:
- Emotional unrest
- Fast heartbeat
- Headache
- Stiff neck and/or tight shoulders
- Back pain
- Fast breathing
- Sweating and/or sweaty palms
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
Internal problems stress can cause this occur over time:
Immune System– worsens symptoms of chronic illnesses, such as AIDS.
Reproductive System– low fertility, erection problems, problems during pregnancy, and painful menstruation periods.
Heart– high blood pressure, arrhythmia, blood clots, atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries), coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and heart failure.
Muscles– constant tension can cause neck, shoulder, and lower back pain. It worsens rheumatoid arthritis conditions.
Stomach– worsens stomach problems such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and ulcerative colitis.
Lungs– worsens asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms.
Skin– exacerbates skin problems such as acne and psoriasis.
Just typing all this out was stressful. Yikes.
Reference: http://www.webmd.com/balance/stress-management/stress-management-effects-of-stress
Relish Health! 