Gulfport Healthcare

Did you know that stress is one of the most common causes of illness in today’s society? Stress is becoming an extremely serious problem for all of us. As the expectations that are made of each of us increase, we are under extreme pressure every day, both at work and at home.

Stress can have very severe detrimental effects on the immune system, which can lead to a variety of different illnesses and ailments. It can also cause chiropractic problems that are caused by tension in the muscles of the neck and back. Furthermore, stress can lead to severe tension headaches, anxiety, panic attacks, and other physical and mental disturbances.

This is part one of a six part article series on stress. If you would like to receive all six articles please submit the form below:


Even some major corporations are beginning to realize the serious effects that stress can have on their employees, and are instituting stress reduction programs at their own expense.

Stress-related issues are one of the most common causes of workplace absenteeism, and corporations realize that reducing stress in their employees will save them money in the long run, because employees will be present more often and more efficient and effective while they are there.

In order to truly treat any type of illness or condition, you must first understand it. Then you must develop a solid plan for managing Eliminating Stress symptoms, and treating the underlying causes. In this article series, you will learn the most common causes of stress, and how to manage those issues in order to treat the condition. Once you begin managing your stress effectively, you will notice major changes in your life. Your health will improve, you will be more effective and efficient at work, your relationships will improve, and you will get more done at work, at school, and at home.


Effects of Stress

Stress is a lot more serious an issue than most people think. Obviously stress can lead to anxiety and other relatively minor mental disturbances, but it can also lead to much more serious problems.

Stress can lead to a shocking assortment of illnesses and ailments, but we’re going to discuss only a few of the most common effects of stress here. If you’re experiencing issues that your doctors can’t seem to find the cause of, ask if stress might be causing the issue, or at least exacerbating it. Managing your stress might help reduce or eliminate those symptoms that seem to have no cause.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common effects of stress.

Immune Suppression

One of the most common problems that can be caused by excessive stress is suppression of immune function. Whenever the body is stressed, the immune system begins to lose a lot of its effectiveness. This can lead to the development of illnesses, and the amplification of existing ones.

Headaches

Tension headaches are very common in people who suffer from extreme stress. They can be very painful and distracting, and may prevent you from being effective at work or in your daily life.


Back and Neck Pain

Another problem commonly caused by stress is pain in the neck and/or back. This is caused by the excess tension in the muscles that can build up as a result of the stress. Chiropractors get an incredible amount of business due to this.

Hives and Other Skin Issues

Stress can cause hives, which is a type of skin reaction that is commonly caused by allergies, but may also be caused by stress. Hives look a bit like blisters that cover the skin. They are generally flesh-colored or slightly pink, and may be quite numerous. Other skin issues such as eczema and psoriasis can be caused by, or at least aggravated by, excessive stress. If you have either of these conditions, reducing your stress may reduce (or even eliminate) the condition.

Panic Attacks

Panic attacks are a horrible affliction than can make sufferers feel like they are going crazy or even dying. They can cause chest pain, rapid heartbeat, heart palpitations, tingling, and other extremely uncomfortable physical symptoms.
Stress is one of the major causes of panic attacks.

Depression

Depression is a very common effect of stress. When someone experiences stress, it can cause all kinds of problems in their life. These problems can mount up, leading to depression. If the depression is left untreated, it can become major depression. Major depression can be very difficult to treat.

Suicide

If stress is not managed for a long period of time, all aspects of a person’s daily life can be affected. If this leads to depression or other mental disturbances, or if it leads to serious problems with relationships or work, the sufferer may reach a breaking point at which they are no longer able to cope with the situation.

Once that breaking point is reached, some individuals will see no way out other than suicide. Without receiving help for their issues, these people have a strong chance of killing themselves.

It’s important to not let it get to this point. Once stress levels reaching a breaking point like this, it can be very difficult to treat. If you can treat stress before it reaches this stage, it is much easier to manage.