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3.6 Minute

29-07-2024 Team Medicover public-health

Written by Medicover Team and Medically Reviewed by Dr Siva Anoop Yella

Stress: Types, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Impact

Stress is a word we hear almost every day. From students to working professionals, homemakers to retirees, stress does not discriminate. It can affect anyone, regardless of age, gender, or lifestyle. While a little stress may help you stay focused and motivated, excessive or chronic stress can harm your body and mind.

In this article, we’ll explore what stress is, its symptoms, how stress hormones work, common causes of stress, and most importantly—how to manage stress effectively in daily life.

What is Stress?

The term "stress" has become widely used. It has no boundaries and affects everyone. While a small bit of stress can theoretically encourage you to make positive changes in your life, too much stress can wreak havoc on your body.

Stress, like anxiety and sadness, is linked to a variety of mental health problems. The body can produce larger quantities of chemical cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Some of the triggers of the following reactions:

Increased blood pressure
Heightened muscle preparedness
Sweating
Alertness

Some factors can period affect a person's ability and respoAll of these elements help a person respond to a potentially dangerous or difficult circumstance. A quicker heart rate is also caused by norepinephrine and epinephrine.

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Now, can stress incontinence be cured?

Yes, stress incontinence can be cured with simple lifestyle changes and medical treatment. To treat incontinence, the health care provider may recommend a combination of treatments.

If any underlying cause, such as a urinary tract infection, is found, patients will be treated for the condition as well.

Common Causes of Stress

There are several reasons for stress, and they differ from person to person. However, some common triggers include:

Heavy workload or job insecurity
Financial difficulties
Relationship issues
Illness or medical conditions
Loss of a loved one
Overuse of digital devices or social media
Academic pressure in children and teens
Major life changes such as moving, getting married, or becoming a parent

Even exciting changes can be stressful when they involve a lot of responsibility or uncertainty.

Types

Stress does not have to be detrimental or even negative. The following are some of the numerous types of stress that people go through:

Acute Stress

Acute stress is a sort of stress that can be more positive or unpleasant in the near term; it is the most common type of stress we encounter in everyday life.

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is defined as persistent and unavoidable stress, such as the stress of a broken marriage or a physically demanding job; catastrophic events and childhood trauma can also contribute to chronic stress.

Episodic Acute Stress

Acute stress that appears to run rampant and become a way of life, resulting in a life of constant distress, is known as episodic acute stress.

Eustress

Eustress enjoys it and finds it exciting. It's described as a good kind of tension that keeps you going. It's associated with adrenaline surges like those felt while skiing or running to make a deadline.

Symptoms

Just as we each have multiple things that stress us out, our symptoms can be different as well. Here are some things you may experience under stress.

Chronic pain
Insomnia
Lower sex drive
Digestive problems
Eating too much or too little
Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
Fatigue
Sleep problems

Signs of Stress

Stress can be both long-term and short-term. Both can induce a wide range of symptoms, but chronic stress can wear on the body over time and have long-term health implications. Some common signs of stress are.

Changes in mood
Clammy or sweaty palms
Decreased sex drive
Diarrhea
Difficulty sleeping
Digestive problems
Dizziness
Feeling anxious
Frequent sickness
Grinding teeth
Headaches
Low energy
Muscle tension, In neck and shoulders
Physical aches and pains
Racing heartbeat
Trembling

How Does Stress Affect Health?

The human body is designed to experience and respond to stress. Stress can be a good thing if it keeps us awake, motivated, and prepared to escape danger.
Stress becomes negative when a person is confronted with long-term issues or feels pressed without respite or relaxation in between stressors.
As a result, the individual becomes overworked and suffers from anxiety caused by stress.
The body's autonomic nervous system has a built-in stress response that causes physiological changes to assist it to cope with stressful situations.
This stress reaction, often known as the "fight or flight response," is triggered in the event of an emergency. The stress hormone cortisol is released.
During lengthy periods of stress, however, this response might be triggered repeatedly. As a result of the repeated activation of the stress response, the body suffers both physical and emotional wear and tear.
Distress is a state caused by a negative stress response or tension that does not go away. Distress can disrupt the body's intrinsic balance, resulting in physical/behavioral, emotional/social, and cognitive manifestations.

How Long Does Stress Last?

Stress might persist for a short period of time or for a long period of time, depending on the changes that are occurring in your life.
Using stress management practices on a regular basis will help you avoid the majority of the physical, mental, and behavioral effects of stress.

How to Identify Stress?

It's not always simple to spot stress, but there are a few methods to spot warning signs that you're under too much pressure.

Stress can originate from a variety of sources, but even minor daily worries from your job, school, family, and friends can have a negative impact on your mind and body.

If you believe you might be stressed, keep an eye out for the following signs:

Psychological symptoms such as trouble focusing, worrying, depression, and difficulty recalling
Emotional signs, such as rage, annoyance, moodiness, or frustration
Physical effects, such as high blood pressure, weight increases, repeated colds or illnesses, and menstrual cycle and libido changes
Signs of conduct, such as bad self-care, not finding time to deal with the things you love, or being dependent on drugs and alcohol

Treatment

Stress is not a separate medical diagnosis and it does not have a single, precise treatment. Stress therapy focuses on improving the situation, learning skills for stress management, incorporating relaxation methods, and managing symptoms or problems that may have been induced by chronic stress.

Some interventions that may be included are

Psychotherapy
Medication
Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Coping

Impact of Stress

When you consider the effect stress has on your life, the link between your mind and body is obvious.
Physical health problems can be generated by feeling stressed out over a relationship, finances, or your living situation.
Also, the opposite is real. Your stress level and your mental health can also be affected by health concerns, whether you struggle with high blood pressure or you have diabetes.
Your body responds differently when your brain encounters high degrees of stress.
Severe acute stress can cause heart attacks, arrhythmias, and even sudden death, including being involved in a natural disaster or getting into a verbal altercation.
However, this often occurs in people who already have heart disease. An emotional toll is also taken by tension.
While some stress can cause feelings of mild anxiety or anger, it can also lead to burnout, anxiety disorders, and depression from prolonged stress.
Chronic stress may also have a significant effect on your well-being. Your autonomic nervous system would be overactive if you encounter constant stress, which will possibly harm your body.

Stress And Anxiety

Sometimes, tension and anxiety go hand in hand. Stress comes from the requirements imposed on your body and brain. Anxiety is when you experience anxiety, unease, or fear at high levels.

Anxiety may definitely be an episodic or chronic stress offshoot. Getting both stress and anxiety may have a significant adverse health effect, making you more likely to develop:

High Blood Pressure
Heart Disease
Diabetes
Panic Disorder
Depression

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How to Manage Stress

Managing stress is not about eliminating every challenge from your life. Instead, it’s about responding to those challenges in healthier ways. Here are some proven strategies:

1. Exercise Regularly

Physical activity boosts the production of endorphins—your body’s natural stress relievers. Even 30 minutes of brisk walking daily can make a significant difference in how you feel.

2. Deep Breathing and Meditation

Deep, conscious breathing calms the nervous system and lowers stress hormones. Techniques like box breathing and mindfulness meditation help reduce anxiety and improve focus.

3. Balanced Diet

What you eat affects how you feel. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats can help regulate mood and energy levels. Limit sugar and caffeine, which can worsen anxiety.

4. Sleep Well

Poor sleep can raise cortisol levels and make stress harder to manage. Try to maintain a regular sleep schedule and avoid screens at least an hour before bedtime.

5. Connect With Others

Talking to a trusted friend, family member, or counselor can help you feel less alone. Social interaction is a powerful tool for reducing stress and gaining new perspectives.

6. Manage Your Time

Organizing your day and setting priorities can prevent overwhelm. Break tasks into smaller steps and learn to say no when needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, chronic stress can increase the risk of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and heart disease, even in people without existing conditions. Stress can also trigger inflammation and blood clotting, which may strain your cardiovascular system. Managing stress is important for heart health regardless of age or fitness level.

Stress can interfere with digestion by slowing down or speeding up gut function. It may lead to stomach aches, bloating, acid reflux, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The gut-brain connection means mental stress often translates to physical symptoms in the digestive tract.

Some subtle signs include jaw clenching, teeth grinding (especially at night), frequent sighing, nail-biting, or hair loss. Chronic stress can also show up as forgetfulness or frequent colds due to lowered immunity. These signs are often overlooked but can indicate persistent tension.

Yes, studies show that women are more likely to report stress-related symptoms like emotional fatigue, headaches, and anxiety, while men may show more physical symptoms or suppress stress. Hormonal differences and societal expectations also influence how stress is processed and expressed by gender.

Absolutely. High stress levels can disrupt hormone balance, leading to irregular or missed periods. In some cases, it may even affect ovulation or sperm quality. Reducing stress is often recommended for couples trying to conceive.

Teens may not recognize or verbalize stress but often express it through mood swings, sleep changes, withdrawal, or irritability. Academic pressure, social media, and identity development are unique stressors for adolescents, and their brains are still learning to regulate emotions effectively.