Everyone experiences stress from time to time, and while it can impact your emotions, most stress is relieved once the source of the problem is addressed. Prolonged stress can make you feel irritable, wound-up, angry or upset. It can also make any existing mental health problems worse and, over time, can contribute to a number of physical health problems too. In our guide, we’ll explain some of the most common health issues in our guide along with guidance on how to control stress.
The impact of stress on health
There’s no doubt that stress can hurt your health. But it’s important that if you are worried about any of these symptoms, you discuss them with a healthcare professional like your GP or call 111 in a non-emergency or 999 in an emergency.
Can stress cause high blood pressure?
Yes, feeling stressed can make your blood pressure rise temporarily. This is because when you’re feeling stressed, your body releases adrenaline. Adrenaline is a hormone that occurs when your body goes into fight or flight mode. It makes your heartbeat faster and, in turn, increases your blood pressure as a response. Usually, your heart rate will return to normal after the stressful period has passed. However, prolonged periods of stress and high blood pressure can be damaging to your heart and circulatory health.
Can stress cause chest pain? Yes, stress, as well as distress and anxiety, can cause chest pain. However, if you experience chest pain, you shouldn’t brush it off as a side effect of stress, as it could be a sign of heart disease or even a heart attack.
Feeling tightness or pressure in your chest as a result of extreme stress or anxiety as a reaction to your body releasing adrenaline and cortisol while in flight or fight mode.
Can stress cause heart attacks?
While prolonged stress can elevate blood pressure, feeling stressed won’t cause a heart attack on its own. Prolonged stress can increase your blood pressure, and how you deal with stress, such as turning to cigarettes, alcohol, or unhealthy food, can contribute to heart disease, which in turn can result in a heart attack.
Can stress cause a stroke?
There are two different types of stroke - Ischaemic strokes and Hemorrhagic strokes. Ismaemic strokes are not directly caused by stress but can be caused by some unhealthy coping mechanisms for stress, such as smoking, unhealthy food and excessive drinking. Hemorrhagic strokes are less common but are caused by weakened arteries from high blood pressure, which, again, stress can be a contributing factor.
Can stress cause nosebleeds?
Stress can cause nosebleeds. However, there are many different reasons why you might experience nosebleeds. Stress causes adrenaline and cortisol to be released in the body, increasing your blood pressure, which can make the blood vessels in your nose dilate, resulting in a nosebleed.
Can stress cause vertigo?
Yes, stress can cause vertigo, but it is quite rare - this is because the most common cause of vertigo is issues with your inner ear, like an infection. However, stress produces hormones, and occasionally, a hormone imbalance can affect your inner ear. As with many health conditions, if you already suffer from vertigo, stress can cause your symptoms to worsen.
Can stress cause stomach issues?
One of the most common physical symptoms of stress is stomach issues. These are usually short-term, and tend to pass once the stress trigger has been removed. Stress can cause diarrhoea, constipation, indigestion, bloating, acid reflux and heartburn. And, if you have an existing condition like IBS, stress can make it worse. This is because of the hormones released in your body during fight or flight mode that can either slow digestion until the perceived threat has gone or speed up digestion so the body can concentrate on managing the threat.
Stress can also impact your appetite, meaning you either eat less or more than you would usually as a coping mechanism, causing weight loss or weight gain.
Can stress cause headaches?
Tension headaches are the most common form of headache and can be triggered by stress, but can also be caused by lack of sleep and too much caffeine. Tension headaches usually cause pain on both sides of your head, face or neck and feel like something is pressing on your head.
Can stress cause eczema?
Prolonged stress can make eczema worse, as it can impact your skin’s natural barrier. This is because stress releases the hormone cortisol, which, over time, causes inflammation and can cause your eczema to flare up and take longer to recover.
How to control stress
Controlling stress is easier said than done - it’s not as simple as deciding not to worry anymore. Here, we’ll provide some simple tips to help reduce the impact of stress on your mind and body.
Take care of your body
While taking care of your body won’t necessarily remove stressors from your life, taking good care of your body can help your body create natural stress relievers which can alleviate some of the symptoms of stress.
Getting enough sleep every night is important as it ensures you’re well-rested and gives you sharper cognitive functions, meaning you’ll be better equipped to deal with stress.
Fueling your body with nutritious food, avoiding highly processed food, and excessive caffeine consumption can reduce the risks of health conditions associated with stress, like heart disease and strokes.
A natural way to relieve stress is to exercise regularly, as it releases endorphins and boosts your mood.
Take care of your mind
It’s not just looking after your physical health that can help alleviate symptoms of stress. Taking time for self-care can also help you to manage stress. Whether that be taking time for hobbies or activities you enjoy or finding peace in meditation.
Finally, having someone to talk to about what causes you stress can be beneficial. It can help you to develop a support network and healthily release your stress.
How can supplements help with stress?
Supplements can help to naturally inhibit the production of stress hormones, which are responsible for raising blood pressure and inflammation within the body. Adaptogens like Ashwagandha are found in our Relax & Focus supplements and KSM-66 Ashwagandha and black pepper supplements, which control the level of cortisol released into the body. Our Adrenal and Cortisol Support supplements can also have a calming effect on the body, helping to reduce stress. Browse our range of high-quality supplements today, or contact us for more information.
