Introduction
How individuals respond when they feel threatened or under pressure is stress. It is the way bodies respond to anything that requires action or attention, but people feel they cannot manage or control them. Although stress is not considered a psychological disorder, it can cause mental health problems such as depression and anxiety if not managed. This paper discusses the causes of stress, its effects on the body, and management approaches.
Causes of Stress
A wide range of things that people experience in their daily life can cause stress. According to Shaw et al. (2018), the common causes of stress include relationships, work, parenting, financial strain, and daily inconveniences. Dysfunctional relationships cause stress because participants lack emotional support from each other, making them feel neglected. Sometimes a person can have an increased workload that needs to be completed within a limited timeline. Equally, the working environment may pose serious health hazards, or supervisors are oppressive, factors that cause stress.
Parenting adds responsibilities to individuals, depriving them of time to rest and relax after a long day at work. Parents may also be unable to meet all needs of their children depending on their economic status. Lack of adequate finances to cater to individual and family needs can cause stress, especially when unemployed (Lindberg & Legg, 2019). Signs and symptoms of stress differ across individuals and may include headache, feeling anxious, low energy, body aches, racing heartbeat, difficulty sleeping, changed mood, dizziness, and digestive problems (Lindberg & Legg, 2019). Stress has adverse effects on all systems of an individual’s body.
Effects of Stress on the Body
Stress negatively impacts the body’s musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, reproductive, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems. According to Shaw et al. (2018), stress causes muscle tension leading to musculoskeletal pains in the upper extremities and lower back and migraine and tension-type headaches. Acute stress triggers increased heart rate, stronger contraction of heart muscles, and elevated blood pressure. Chronic stress increases risks for cardiovascular disorders such as heart attack, hypertension, and stroke. Stress can cause constriction of the airway between the nose and the lungs, leading to rapid breathing and shortness of breath (Shaw et al., 2018). Moreover, stress triggers the release of adrenalin and cortisol hormones by the adrenal gland (nervous system), causing increased respiration and heart rates and dilation of blood vessels.
The nervous system influences both male and female reproductive systems. The release of certain hormones by the nervous system leads to hormonal imbalance, causing problems such as irregular menstrual cycles, inability to conceive, and premenstrual syndrome in women (Shaw et al., 2018). Stress also reduces sexual desire and increases vulnerability to reproductive system diseases in both males and females. Additionally, stress is associated with gastrointestinal problems such as stomach aches and discomfort, nausea, ulcers, bloating, and vomiting. Further, stress hurts the endocrine system by causing miscommunication between glands and organs, which can lead to immune and metabolic disorders.
Approaches to Managing and Reducing Stress
Individuals can use different strategies to reduce and manage stress. According to Shaw et al. (2018), the effective and beneficial approaches to stress reduction include the maintenance of healthy social support networks, regular physical exercises, and an adequate amount of stress. Healthy relationships with family members, friends, co-workers, and neighbors can prevent and reduce stress. Regular physical exercise reduces the stress hormone, helps in relaxation, improves mood, and can increase self-confidence (Lindberg & Legg, 2019). Equally, adequate sleep improves the ability to cope with stressors and reduces feelings of anxiety.
Conclusion
Conclusively, every person is vulnerable to stress, depending on their situation. Factors such as lack of adequate finances, dysfunctional relationships, parenting responsibilities, increased workload, and due to day-to-day inconveniences contribute to stress. The condition has adverse effects on the body’s musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, reproductive, gastrointestinal, and endocrine systems and manifests a wide range of signs and symptoms. Measures such as maintaining healthy social support networks, regular physical exercises, and an adequate amount of stress are instrumental in managing and reducing stress.
References
Lindberg, S., & Legg, T. J. (2019). Psychological stress: Symptoms, causes, treatment & diagnosis. Healthline. Web.
Shaw, W., Labott-Smith, S., Burg, M. M., Hostinar, C., Alen, N., van Tilburg, M. A. L., Berntson, G. G., Tovian, S. M., & Spirito, M. (2018). Stress effects on the body. American Psychological Association. Web.