Is Your Stress Becoming Chronic?
How to tell if stress is affecting your health
How to tell if stress is affecting your health
In a world of endless emails, breaking news alerts, family responsibilities, work obligations and more, stress is understandable. And feeling stressed sometimes is a normal part of life — with an emphasis on sometimes.
“If stress is going on for a long period of time — more than several days or certainly several weeks — that’s when it can become more of an issue,” says Wade Licup, MD, a family medicine physician at Scripps Coastal Medical Center Vista.
Symptoms of chronic stress
Of course, every person is different and responds to stress differently. Dr. Licup notes that some of the most common signs of chronic stress include:
- Irritability
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Mood swings
- Trouble sleeping
- Stomach issues
When the body is in a state of chronic stress for a prolonged period of time, the impact of that stress only expands. “It starts to wear on our actual day-to-day lives. It can start to impact our work, our relationships,” Dr. Licup says.
Long-term effects of chronic stress
Ongoing stress can have a serious impact on physical and mental health.
“When a person experiences any of these chronic stress symptoms either too intensely or for too long, our immune system is weaker, so we’re more at risk for infections. We’re more at risk for heart and vascular issues — things like heart attacks and strokes — and then mental health issues and metabolic issues.”
Research shows that women are more likely than men to experience stress-related weight gain. Chronic stress can also impact a woman’s fertility and cause menstrual problems. For men, chronic stress can increase the risk for prostate cancer and impact testosterone levels, again leading to fertility issues.
How to manage and reduce stress
When it comes to managing stress levels, Dr. Licup says there are two ways to approach it: What you can actively do to help manage your stress and what you can remove from your life that’s causing stress.
Dr. Licup recommends maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, getting enough sleep each night and implementing some sort of mindfulness practice into your daily routine.
“These are the fundamentals of managing our stress and health,” he adds. “They’re so important.”
When to seek help for stress
If you’re worried that chronic stress might be causing health problems, Dr. Licup says a primary care doctor is a great first person to speak with to figure out the next step, whether that’s getting help for your physical health, your psychological health or both.
Dr. Licup recommends giving your primary care doctor updates on your stress levels regardless of whether or not you’re worried — or whether or not they ask.
“Everyone experiences stress. It’s unavoidable,” he says. “So, it’s always good to be proactive and let your primary care doctor know how you are feeling. That way, your doctor can establish a baseline and continue to work with you when you go through changes.”
This content appeared in San Diego Health, a publication in partnership between Scripps and San Diego Magazine that celebrates the healthy spirit of San Diego.