Stress can cause or worsen many serious health problems, including Mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.
Various factors might cause stress. It may be acute stress (short-term) or chronic stress (long-term).
Cardiovascular diseases include heart disease, high blood pressure, abnormal heart rhythms, heart attacks, and strokes.
It can be set off by stressful life events (such as a substantial work presentation), a severe life event (such as a death in the family), or perhaps by nothing at all.
Additionally, it won’t always be a conscious choice; you can be under stress without even being aware of it.
What is Acute Stress?
In the short term, this physical response to stress is beneficial as it increases our alertness, energy, and ability to deal with challenges.
The stress hormones adrenaline, noradrenaline, and cortisol serve as messengers for these effects under acute stress, which is transient or short-lived and includes situations like meeting deadlines, getting stopped in traffic, or abruptly slamming on the brakes to escape an accident.
The physical response to acute stress is the fight-or-flight response, which is a survival mechanism that enables us to respond quickly to perceived threats.
What is Chronic Stress?
Chronic stress is the type of stress that most of us experience daily due to the demands of work, family, and other responsibilities.
It’s not a single event like acute stress but rather ongoing tension that can last for weeks, months, or even years.
Chronic stress has been linked to some of the most severe physical and mental health problems, including high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, cancer, obesity, anxiety disorders, depression, and dementia.
Here Are 12 Common Health Issues Caused By Stress
Physical ailments cause stress for different reasons, like a physical response, work deadlines, family responsibilities, or other causes of anxiety.
1. Headaches And Migraines
According to the American Massage Therapy Association, massage can help relieve tension headaches and migraines by reducing muscle tension and decreasing inflammation.
2. Heart Disease
Research has shown that massage can help lower blood pressure and heart rate and improve circulation.
All of these factors can help reduce the risk of heart disease.
3. Weight Gain
Stress causes the body to produce cortisol, leading to increased appetite and cravings for sugary or fatty foods.
Massage can help reduce cortisol levels and promote relaxation, which may help prevent weight gain.
4. Gastrointestinal Issues
Studies have shown that massage can help alleviate irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) symptoms, such as abdominal pain, bloating, and constipation. Massage has also been shown to reduce inflammation in the gut, which can further lessen intestinal issues.
5. Insomnia
If you’re struggling to fall asleep or stay asleep at night, a massage may help. One study found that participants who received a massage before bedtime fell asleep faster and slept more soundly than those who didn’t.
6. Anxiety
Massage is an effective treatment for anxiety, with one study finding that it was just as effective as medication in reducing symptoms like racing thoughts, sleep problems, and irritability.