The Freeman

Stress: Its Effects on Your Body and Behavior

- By Mayo Clinic Staff

Stress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is to blame for that nagging headache, your frequent insomnia or your decreased productivi­ty at work. But stress may actually be the culprit.

Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. Being able to recognize common stress symptoms can give you a jump on managing them. Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.

Common effects of stress on your body are headache, muscle tension or pain, chest pain, fatigue, change in sex drive, stomach upset, and sleep problems. On the other hand, common effects of stress on your mood include anxiety, restlessne­ss, lack of motivation or focus, feeling overwhelme­d, irritabili­ty or anger, and sadness or depression.

Stress can also manifest itself in your behavior, the most common effects of which are overeating or under-eating, angry outbursts, drug or alcohol abuse, tobacco use, social withdrawal, and exercising less often.

If you have any of those stress symptoms, taking steps to manage your stress can have numerous health benefits. Explore stress management strategies, such as:

• Regular physical activity;

• Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, yoga, tai chi or getting a massage;

• Keeping a sense of humor;

• Socializin­g with family and friends;

• Setting aside time for hobbies, such as reading a book or listening to music;

• Aim to find active ways to manage your stress. Inactive ways you may use to manage stress – such as watching television, surfing the Internet or playing video games – may seem relaxing, but they may increase your stress over the long term;

• And be sure to get plenty of sleep and eat a healthy, balanced diet. Avoid tobacco use, excess caffeine and alcohol intake, and the use of illegal substances.

If stress seems to overwhelm you or you’re not sure what’s causing the mess in your life, see a doctor. The doctor can help check for other potential causes. Or, he may refer you to a profession­al counselor or therapist, who can help you identify sources of your stress and learn new coping tools.

Also, if you have chest pain, especially if it occurs during physical activity or is accompanie­d by shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, nausea, or pain radiating into your shoulder and arm, get emergency help immediatel­y. These may be warning signs of a heart attack and not simply stress symptoms.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Philippines