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Stress symptoms: Effects on your body, feelings and behavior
By Mayo Clinic staffStress symptoms may be affecting your health, even though you might not realize it. You may think illness is to blame for that nagging headache, your frequent forgetfulness or your decreased productivity at work. But sometimes stress is to blame. Indeed, stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior. When you recognize common stress symptoms, you can take steps to manage them.
Of course, other potentially serious health problems also can cause some of these symptoms. If you're not sure if stress is the cause or if you've taken steps to control your stress but symptoms continue, see your doctor. Also, if you have chest pain, especially if it occurs during physical activity or is accompanied by shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, nausea or pain radiating into your shoulder and arm, get emergency help immediately. These signs and symptoms may indicate a heart attack and not simply stress symptoms.
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If you do have stress symptoms, taking steps to manage your stress can have numerous health benefits. Stress management can include:
- Physical activity
- Relaxation techniques
- Meditation
- Yoga
- Tai chi
- Stress: The different kinds of stress. American Psychological Association. http://www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=21. Accessed Dec. 16, 2008.
- Dimsdale JE. Psychological stress and cardiovascular disease. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2008;51:1237.
- Bernstein DA. Health, stress and coping. In: Essentials of Psychology. 4th ed. Boston, Mass.: Houghton Mifflin Co; 2008:395.
- How the mind matters to your skin. American Academy of Dermatology. http://www.aad.org/media/background/factsheets/fact_stressandskin.html?media=print Accessed Nov. 28, 2008.
- Dimsdale JE, et al. Stress and psychiatry. In: Sadock BJ, et al. Kaplan & Sadock's Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2005:2180.
- Stress and substance abuse: A special report. National Institute on Drug Abuse. http://www.drugabuse.gov/stressanddrugabuse.html. Accessed Nov. 28, 2008.
- Stress and your health. National Women's Health Information Center. http://www.womenshealth.gov/faq/stress-your-health.cfm. Accessed Dec. 16, 2008.
- Listening to the warning signs of stress. American Psychological Association. http://apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=184. Accessed Dec. 16, 2008.
- Hamer M, et al. Psychological distress as a risk factor for cardiovascular events: Pathophysiological and behavioral manifestations. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2008;52:2156.
- Ohman L, et al. Longitudinal analysis of the relation between moderate long-term stress and health. Stress and Health. 2007;23:131.
