We all know stress isn’t good for you. We all know stress happens to everyone on a daily basis. In taking a closer look at the short and long term stress effects we are putting on our bodies, we can better understand ways to cope with and minimize our stress. It doesn’t matter whether you are a man, woman, child, teen, adult, or even an animal – you are exposed to various stressors and the outcome is generally the same.
Short Term Stress Effects
When exposed to a hostile situation, the body goes into a fight or flight mode that it will remain active until the threat that caused it goes away. When the body goes into fight or flight mode, it will experience any number of the following conditions:
- Blood flow will move away from the less vital to more vital organs, to protect the body.
- The heart rate will increase to provide a quicker blood supply to the body.
- The blood pressure will rise to ensure the blood is regulated throughout the body effectively.
- The person will breath harder and faster to get more oxygen into their bodies from the environment.
- The body will break down glycogen stored in the liver and muscles to ensure the body gets the glucose it needs to function.
- The body will make more glucose on its own from non-carbohydrate sources to ensure it has enough to fuel the body until the threat is removed.
When these things are happening, the body will show any number of the symptoms below:
- Heart palpitations
- Chest pain
- Inability to sleep
- Difficulty speaking or dry mouth
- Feeling out of breath
- Anxiety
- Stomach discomfort
- Loose bowel movements
- High blood sugar
- Decreased appetite
- Decreased sex drive
- Flush or warm feeling
- Goose-bumps
- Back or neck pain, headaches
- Angry outbursts
- Depression
Long Term Stress Effects
When these stress triggers are persistent, the body responds the same way, releasing more stress hormones into the body. When the stress hormones remain elevated for long periods of time we begin to see the long term stress effects come into play such as:
- Mood and anxiety disorders
- Depression
- Bowel conditions such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome or Crohn’s Disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Insomnia
- Decreased sex drive
- Increased risk of asthma
- Substance abuse
- Chronic headaches
- Weight loss
- Memory disturbances
To combat both the short and long term stress effects, do your best to calm your nerves and remove yourself from the stressful situation and the things that trigger them. No one can get away from all their stress triggers, so make a plan of action to deal with the stressors and make sure you take time to relax on a regular basis. If work is stressing you, break it down into smaller chunks to cut down the overwhelmed feeling, or take a vacation. If the kids are stressing you, take a 5 minute break in the bathroom. Minimizing your stress is the key to a longer, healthier, life.
