10 Ways Chronic Stress Can Undermine Your Health — and What You Can Do About It

These days, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who isn’t stressed out. While some stress is normal (healthy even), chronic stress can seriously affect your health. If you’ve been feeling constantly overwhelmed, it’s time to take stock and assess the damage. 

Our team at Leading MDs knows how detrimental chronic stress can be to overall health. We want all our patients to be informed of its potential impact. Here are ten ways chronic stress can deplete well-being. 

1. Weakened immune system

Right off the bat, stress takes a swing at your primary defense mechanism. You’re much less likely to ward off colds, infections, and even chronic illnesses when stressed out. 

To fortify your immune system, prioritize sleep, eat a balanced diet, and engage in stress-reducing activities like yoga or meditation.

2. Increased risk of heart disease

Prolonged stress raises your blood pressure and increases your risk of heart disease and stroke. Regular exercise, a heart-healthy diet, and mindfulness practices can help keep your heart in check. 

3. Weight gain or loss

Stress can affect your appetite in different ways. Some respond to stress by overeating; others lose their appetite entirely. 

We recommend working with one of our experts at Leading MDs to find a consistent meal schedule that works for you. 

4. Digestive issues

Have you noticed that your stomach hurts more when you’re stressed? That’s because there’s a deep connection between your mental and gut health. 

Stress can trigger digestive issues like indigestion and exacerbate conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 

5. Poor sleep quality

Sleep is critical to your overall well-being. However, when your mind is stuck in overdrive, it can keep you tossing and turning at night. 

Establish bedtime calm by limiting screen time before bed and practicing deep breathing to prepare your mind and body for restorative sleep. 

6. Mental health struggles

Stress is often the snowball that starts the avalanche of mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, and mood swings. And those mental health issues continue to wear down your physical health. 

We offer psychiatric services for a wide range of mental health issues and can connect you with the best treatments and therapies. 

7. Hormonal imbalances

Stress disrupts your normal hormone production and regulation, which can lead to irregular menstrual cycles, fertility issues, and thyroid dysfunction. 

8. Increased risk of diabetes

Stress and blood sugar may be seemingly unrelated, but chronic stress can cause a spike in blood sugar levels and increase your risk for type 2 diabetes.  

9. Muscle tension and pain

Stress makes you physically clench and tighten your muscles (often without realizing it), leading to tight shoulders, headaches, and persistent back pain. 

10. Memory and concentration issues

Have you ever felt scatterbrained when you’re stressed out? Chronic stress impairs your focus, ability to retain information, and decision-making. 

How we can help restore your mental and physical health

It’s not realistic to eliminate stress from your life; however, you can take intentional steps toward significantly reducing it. 

First, we recommend scheduling an appointment with our team. We thoroughly evaluate your medical history, discuss your current symptoms, and create a personalized treatment plan.

We may recommend medication, counseling, and/or group therapy, depending on your needs. We also walk you through certain lifestyle adjustments to help you manage your stress, such as:

• Exercise guidance
• Healthy nutrition plans
• Mindfulness strategies
• Healthy sleep habits

Stress affects everyone differently, so we never recommend a one-size-fits-all approach. 

If you’re ready to break the cycle of chronic stress and start feeling like yourself again, schedule an evaluation with our specialists. We proudly serve communities in and around Goodyear, Mesa, and Sun City, Arizona.