What is Stress?

There are many physical illnesses whose causes are stress-related. Many people resort to over-the-counter medications when they are stressed. Some also try to cope with stress by consuming drugs and alcohol. However, stress has a lot to do with your own patterns of thinking and behavior. Changing these patterns of thinking and behavior really helps, even in the long term. This can also cause physical symptoms to disappear. Our team of advisors can help you reduce your stress levels.

The following physical symptoms are often related to stress:

Muscle tension

When you are stressed, your muscles tense up. Once the stress is over, the muscles relax again. However, if you are constantly stressed, your muscles will no longer relax at all. This leads to muscle pain and, very often, severe tension headaches.

Tension headaches

These occur because chronic stress causes the muscles in the neck and throat area to be permanently tense. You can loosen these muscle groups with light stretching exercises. Endurance sports and brisk walks in the fresh air can reduce stress hormones. This helps prevent headaches. Relaxation techniques such as progressive muscle relaxation can also provide relief.

Shortness of breath

Stress can also lead to shallow and rapid breathing. This is not so bad for healthy people. For people who already suffer from respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma or COPD, it is more critical, because such rapid and shallow breathing can lead to an oxygen deficiency.

Increased pulse and blood pressure

You also need to think about your heart. During acute stress, your heart beats faster and harder. The blood vessels that supply your muscles dilate. Your blood pressure rises. In the short term, this physical adjustment can be very important. However, if your stress is chronic and your blood pressure remains high for a long period of time due to stress, your risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke increases.

Gastrointestinal complaints

Many people suffer from stomach pain, flatulence, diarrhea, or constipation due to stress. The good bacteria of the stomach also suffer from stress. This can have a negative effect on your mood. Stress can also cause people to eat more than is good for them. This quickly leads to obesity, which is also bad for the cardiovascular system.