Health Problems Caused By Stress

Over 1 million people each year are diagnosed with stress-related illnesses. These illnesses range from mild to severe and acute. Because the effects of stress can be cumulative, often times people don’t think that stress is the cause of their problem. Stress can cause many health troubles. Even doctors may have a hard time determining that stress has played a part in a health situation. That’s why it is important in all medical conditions that you help your doctor by listing any stressful situations you may be under. Sometimes, the first real indication a person has that they are stressed is by the body showing it in physical illness.


The good news is, by reducing or eliminating our stress levels, we can combat these diseases and in some cases, we can slow or reverse the effects of stress. Once we learn to reduce our stress levels, our body will respond positively. We can prevent, reverse or slow down, many common illnesses by using stress control. Once free from stress, the body once again functions as normal. The long-term effects, however, are with us and may cause us problems down the road. By learning to control stress, we can help our body maintain proper function.

Þ Panic Attacks - Panic attacks are very common. These episodes can occur when the body has an overload of stress. The symptoms can be very similar to a heart attack. If you ever feel shortness of breath, dizziness, rapid heartbeat or chest pains, seek medical attention immediately. Only a doctor can rule out the possibility of an actual heart attack.

Þ Depression - When faced with chronic stress, some people may show signs of depression. These include a lack of interest in others, fatigue, and feelings of hopelessness. Talk to a medical doctor about these symptoms. When left untreated, depression can worsen.

Þ Anger - Chronic stress can cause some people to become angry. You may notice that small things set you into a state of anger. This could be the cumulative stress making us irritable. Anger management classes deal with the underlying source of the anger, which many times is due to stress.