How Stress Can Hurt Us
It has been estimated that two-thirds of all visits to physicians are for stress-related problems. Recent evidence indicates that the physical changes associated with stress may contribute to the leading causes of death – heart disease and cancer.
The effects of stress include the following:
- Stress can cause chronic fatigue, digestive upsets, headaches, and back pain.
- Stress can affect the blood cells that help you fight off infection, so you are more likely to get colds and other diseases.
- Constant stress can increase blood pressure and can increase the risk for stroke.
- Stress can increase the danger of heart attacks, particularly if you are often angry and mistrustful.
- Stress can make an asthma attack worse.
- Stress triggers behaviors that contribute to death and disability, such as smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse, and overeating.
- Stress can lead to diminished sexual desire and an inability to achieve orgasm.
- Stress makes it harder to take other steps to improve health, such as giving up smoking or making changes in diet.
