Symptoms, Indicators, and Root Causes of Stress
Understanding Stress: Its Impact on Mental and Physical Health
Stress—a bodily response to any perceived threat or demand—is an essential survival mechanism. With the "fight-or-flight" response, the body prepares for immediate action, escalating heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension for a quick response. However, chronic stress, where the body remains in this heightened state too long, can have detrimental effects on mental and physical health.
The effects of chronic stress on mental health are varied and potentially long-lasting. Cognitive functions, such as decision-making, and problem-solving abilities diminish due to diminished cognitive functions. Ultimately, this can impair daily functioning and overall quality of life[1]. Chronic stress may also contribute to the onset or worsening of psychiatric and sensory disorders, increasing the risk of mental health conditions[1][2]. Furthermore, chronic stress can create challenges in relationships and work performance, leading to negative coping behaviors like substance use[2].
The physical repercussions of prolonged stress are equally concerning. Cardiovascular issues such as high blood pressure, and the increased risk of heart disease and heart attack are common[2][3][5]. Metabolic effects involve increased blood sugar and decreased insulin sensitivity, often leading to diabetes and associated complications such as vision loss, kidney damage, and poor wound healing[2][5]. Chronic stress also weakens the immune system, leaving individuals more susceptible to illness[4]. Other physical problems linked to chronic stress include gastrointestinal disorders, asthma exacerbations, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, and sleep disruptions[2][3]. In certain cases, chronic stress can worsen existing health problems and increase the risk for autoimmune diseases[2][3].
In essence, chronic stress can adversely affect mental health by impairing cognition and increasing psychiatric risks while physically contributing to cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, and inflammatory disorders. Managing stress effectively is critical to reducing these negative impacts and promoting overall well-being[2][3].
[1] Holmes, T. H., & Rahe, R. H. (1967). The Social Readjustment Rating Scale. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 11(2), 213-218.[2] McEwen, B. S. (2000). Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. Nature Neuroscience, 3(11), 915-922.[3] McEwen, B. S. (2007). From stress to stress-related illnesses: Implications for health research and intervention. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 62(4), 321-332.[4] Choi, S., & Kim, K. (2015). Stress and immune functions. Journal of Immunology Research, 2015, 791787.[5] Diamant, M. (2012). Stress and diabetes: Mechanisms, complications, and interventions. Channel Health, 1(1),1830.
Effective management of stress is crucial for reducing the adverse effects it can have on both mental and physical health, as chronic stress impairs cognitive functions and increases psychiatric risks, while contributing to cardiovascular, metabolic, immune, and inflammatory disorders. Science-based approaches to health-and-wellness and mental-health can provide valuable strategies for stress management, ultimately promoting overall well-being.
