Stress is your body’s response to changes in the environment, and your body can react in mental, emotional and even physical ways. This phenomenon is quite common in life, especially in a fast-paced modern city like Singapore. However, if it prolongs without help, stress can cause a wide range of physical symptoms that can harm your overall health in the long term.
Read on for five surprising effects of stress on your body, and it’s important that you don’t ignore these signs!
1. Insomnia
When you’re stressed, you may find it harder to clear your mind and fall or stay asleep at night. Chronic insomnia, which occurs when you have difficulty sleeping at least three nights a week, can cause serious effects on your health if left untreated. Chronic insomnia can cause you to feel tired and easily irritated, but in the long run, it can lead to depression, anxiety and even heart failure.
2. Decreased Sexual Performance
In some instances, stress can affect our sex life by changing your mood or libido, and this can happen to both men and women. If this goes on for a while, it can greatly affect the quality of your relationships. The worst thing you can do is keep it to yourself. Talk to your doctor and don’t be afraid to be honest and seek help!
3. Acne or Other Skin Issues
Stress hormones can change the appearance of your skin, cause skin problems and aggravate existing ones. Skin issues like acne, eczema, hives, rashes and wrinkles are some examples of the effects of stress. But did you know that stress can also cause hair loss? Dropping hair in small amounts is completely normal, but if you start shedding in big clumps, you may be suffering from stress or another underlying condition, such as iron deficiency.
4. Digestive Issues
Your gut runs from your mouth all the way to the other end of your body, and it’s lined with nerve endings throughout the passageway. When you’re stressed out, your sensitive gut gets hit with a load of hormones from your brain, potentially causing a range of digestive issues like loss of appetite, massive appetite, diarrhoea and nausea.
5. Frequent Infections
If you find yourself getting sick too often, it may be due to stress. Stress can negatively impact your immune system, your body’s natural defence against infections. Chronic stress can weaken your immunity, making you more vulnerable to infections like the colds and flu.
With that said, don’t get bogged down by these effects – do check out our other blog article on 7 simple strategies to manage stress and anxiety!
If you feel overwhelmed by the stress, speaking to medical professionals may help to relieve some of your mental burden. Make an appointment to talk to our certified mental health exerts on the Doctor Anywhere app.
