Health Effects of Stress

In more primitive times, stress played a crucial part in human survival. The ability to react quickly to life-or-death threats helped people avoid hungry predators and live to thrive another day. Today, the chances of coming face-to-face with a tiger looking for breakfast are slim— yet stress continues.

The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that 75% of adults experience moderate-to-high stress levels. In the APA's Stress in America™ 2021 report, some common stressors were:

• Discrimination
• Family responsibilities
• Health problems affecting family
• Housing costs 
• Money
• Personal health concerns
• Personal job stability
• Political climate/unrest
• Relationships 
• The economy
• The news
• Work

Anything that disrupts your life can be a stressor—whether it's on this list or not. When you perceive a threat, the mind sends a signal to a part of the brain called the amygdala, which triggers a series of chemical responses. These reactions are designed to help you flee, freeze or fight back against the source of stress. Your heart rate goes up, your breathing accelerates and your blood pressure increases during a stress response.

In a life or death situation, that's how your body should react. But being in a constant state of stress is linked to physical, emotional and social issues, such as sleeplessness, anxiety, obesity, skin conditions, immune deficiency and memory problems. It can also increase your risk of heart disease, stroke, infertility and even premature aging.

The 2017 American Psychological Association report on stress suggests the following as ways to manage your emotions:

• Bond with others. Nearly 75% of people said they have someone to rely on. Relationships help us live longer, lower our risk for heart disease and boost our immunities.
• Get involved. Survey respondents said they volunteer, support causes, sign petitions or boycott companies to deal with issues of concern. So, get behind causes you value.
• Take a break from the news and social media. More than 80% of those surveyed say they check the news at least once daily, and 20% said they "check their social media constantly." If you feel overwhelmed, cut back. Researchers have found news and social media can cause cognitive overload.
• Take care of yourself. Self-care, like meditation, decreases "fight or flight" reactions.
• Work out. 53% of Americans exercise to cope with stress.

Feeling anxious or overwhelmed? Unchecked stress could be the cause. Talk with your doctor about how to get back on track.

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