10 Common Illnesses Caused By Stress
Millions of people all around the world are drowning in stress. They may be stressed because of their job, people in their life, their reactions to events in life, and much more. Stress, in and of itself, is a major problem. It can bring you down, make you lose all your energy, and mess with your mind. That isn’t all. Stress can even cause many illnesses as well. If you want to improve your life, the first step is to learn whether an illness you have, may have been caused by stress. Find out more about the 10 most common illnesses caused by stress. If you can relate, it is time to take action to reduce your stress.
Substance Abuse Disorder
One of the many reasons for developing a substance abuse disorder is stress. Many people will start drinking to try hiding from the stress in their life. They may feel overwhelmed by the unbelievable amount of work they have to do. They may feel stressed because of relationship issues. Drinking is their solution to drown out the feelings related to these issues in their life. Do you connect with this? There are many connections between stress and drinking. If you have developed a substance abuse disorder because of stress, there is help available.
Heart Diseases
Research shows there is a connection between stress and heart disease. Those who are stressed out have a much larger risk of developed high blood pressure levels and other heart-related issues. This is mainly because stress increases blood flow and heart rate and releases triglycerides and cholesterol into the blood. Also, many people who experience high levels of stress will smoke or overeat, which are two other indicators of heart disease. If you have developed heart issues because of stress, it is time to get your stress under control.
Asthma
Some studies show stress can make asthma worse. It can also cause someone to have an increased risk of developing this health issues, especially in children. Stress causes people to develop breathing issues. They don’t do as much or any deep breathing because they are tense and they don’t focus on their breaths. When this happens, they have a more difficult time catching their breath as well. If you have developed asthma because of stress, talk to your doctor today about some stress reduction techniques that may help treat your asthma.
Headaches or Migraines
Many people who deal with stress, especially those who have chronic stress, deal with headaches or migraines as well. The tension and pressure that stress puts on the body restrict the blood flow. When this occurs, it also causes tension on the brain which leads to headaches or even migraines. If you have developed headaches or migraines because of stress, be sure to practice stress reduction techniques. By doing so, you can reduce your headaches or migraines significantly.
Obesity
If you are dealing with stress and that is causing you to overeat, you may experience obesity. Not only that, but stress also increases cortisol, a hormone that increases the fat that the abdomen holds. If you can learn to manage and reduce your stress, you can reduce the cortisol in your body, which will help you to lose weight. Obesity can cause a whole range of health problems. By reducing your stress, you also reduce your risk of developing those other health problems as well.
Anxiety
Stress can also cause a wide range of anxiety disorders, in addition to depression. People who experience stress, especially chronic stress, don’t get a handle on their life. They start losing control and wondering when it will ever get better. They may start getting anxious about everything that is happening in their life. If this sounds like the case for you, reducing your stress can help to reduce that anxiety. You can finally regain control over your life.
Aging
There is evidence which shows stress affects how someone ages. In fact, some studies show that people who experience chronic stress look an average of 10 years older than their actual age, than those with minimal stress. If you have started experiencing signs of accelerated aging and you have been under stress, that could be the reason. It isn’t too late to stop or reverse the process. If you get your stress under control, you can feel and look younger. You can stop the advanced aging.
Gastrointestinal Disorders
Gastrointestinal disorders can also be caused by stress. While stress can’t cause an ulcer, it can significantly make the ulcers worse. Stress also can cause gastrointestinal issues like heartburn, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), colitis, and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome). If you experience any gastrointestinal disorders or gastrointestinal symptoms, it could be because of stress. If you get your stress managed, you might be able to reduce these symptoms or treat the disorders.
Early Death
Studies have also found a link between chronic stress and early death. Caregivers in these studies take on a lot of stress when taking care of their loved ones. They have a higher rate of early death than those who aren’t taking care of someone else. In addition, stress can lead to higher risks of heart issues and other severe health issues, which can lead to early death as well. If you want to reduce your risk of early death, managing your stress levels can help you to do that.
Aches and Pains
Another one of the common illnesses caused by stress is chronic aches and pains. Many people who experience aches and pains feel like there is something wrong with them. They may undergo thousands and thousands of dollars worth of x-rays, MRIs, and other tests, when in fact, the problem is stress. When many of those who are experiencing aches and pains start managing their stress, through yoga, meditation, or exercise, they find a lot of their pain goes away because the stress was causing their pain. The tension in their body, from the stress, was causing the aches and pains. If you are experiencing aches and pains and haven’t gotten positive results from testing, it could be because of stress. Managing your stress may help to reduce the aches and pains.
There are many common illnesses caused by stress. If you have an illness or disorder and experience chronic stress, stress could be the cause. In some instances, even intermittent stress can cause health issues. For example, some people who even experience moderate, intermittent stress may experience aches, pains, and anxiety. Dealing with the illnesses above can be stressful, and stress can lead to these illnesses. So, what do you do?
If you have chronic stress, find ways to manage it as soon as you can. There are many stress reduction techniques you can learn and implement into your life. You can get your stress under control. Once you do, see how you are feeling? Do any of the symptoms you have go away? Do any of the disorders you have to get under control? If so, stress was probably the primary cause. If you have these illnesses, you want solutions. If you manage your stress and these illnesses still aren’t better, you should certainly follow up with your doctor.
