How Chronic Stress Affects Your Health Stress is not necessarily a negative factor in our lives. In fact, stress can help us become stronger, better and in some cases, can keep us alive. We have all heard of the fight or flight response which is triggered by stress. Our heart rate increases, pupils dilate, our blood pressure shoots up, muscles prepare for action. In a life threatening situation, these physical changes help us to survive. If we are subjected to these responses on a daily basis, however, our health may pay a price. Digestive System Have you ever had an upset stomach during or right after a highly charged, emotional situation? There is a good explanation for that. While under stress, digestion is put on the back burner. Your mouth gets dry and the colon either stops working (constipation), or squeezes too tightly (diarrhea). Heartburn and acid reflux are also common occurrences. Stress has also been indicated in irritable bowel syndrome. Cardiovascular System We have all felt our hearts race, our cheeks flush when we have a confrontation with a co-worker or family member. While under sustained stress, the arteries can chronically tighten, causing high blood pressure. If it goes untreated, high blood pressure can cause damage to the arteries (atherosclerosis), which increases the risk of blood clots, heart attack and strokes. Musculoskeletal System As mentioned earlier, when put in a fight or flight situation, our muscles prepare for action- they tighten. When under on-going stress, they stay in that contracted state and now you have chronic muscle tension. This may result in postural distortions, such as the common, head forward, rounded shoulders posture. This posture may cause headaches, neck and back pain, pain in the hands and arms. Chronic fatigue, TMJD, muscle cramps and spasms may all be related to chronic stress. Immune System While under stress, our bodies produce higher levels of the hormone cortisol. These higher and more prolonged levels of cortisol can have negative effects, such as a suppressed immune system. Cortisol slows down the formation of white blood cells and inhibits other chemicals that help the body heal. Source: Benjamin, Ben and Werner, Ruth. How Long-Term Stress Contibutes to Pain, Injury and Disease. Massage Therapy JournalWinter 2005: 30-33