The effects of stress

The effects of stress affect not only man, but also animals. Stress can affect children, adolescents and adults. The effects of stress on the body can be categorized into short term and long term effects.

Short Term Effects of Stress

When a person encounters a threat, his body gets geared up to handle it by the 'Fight or flight' response. During this response certain functional adjustments occur in the body. These changes persist till the threat exists. These immediate, transient effects are the short term effects of stress. These functional adjustments can cause few symptoms.

• Palpitation
• Chest pain
• Cold clammy skin with gooseflesh
• Breathlessness
• Dry mouth with difficulty in speaking and swallowing
• Abdominal discomfort
• Headache, back ache and neck pain
• Depletion of energy stores
• Flare up of diseases like eczema, psoriasis, arthritis
• Difficulty in concentrating
• Memory disturbances
• Sleeplessness
• Loss of appetite
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Outbursts of anger

Short Term Effects of Stress

When the stress factor is persistent or repetitive, the body keeps secreting the stress hormones and their blood levels remain continuously at a higher level and hence the associated functional adjustments.

Few symptoms are

• Chronic head ache
• Mood swings
• Anxiety disorder
• Substance abuse
• Weight loss
• Heart attack due increased blood pressure, sugar and cholesterol
• Sleeplessness