Chronic stress has been linked to a range of health problems, including depression, insomnia, and various diseases such as autoimmune diseases, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. Stress is the body and brain’s response to external factors that can occur once, short-term or chronically over a long period of time. Persistent stress triggers the production of certain hormones and chemicals that can adversely affect the body’s organs.
A review by the University of Karachi in Pakistan found that depression is associated with uncontrolled chronic stress based on 37 studies. Similarly, research from the University of British Columbia in Canada has shown that major stressful events can lead to the development of depression over time. Insomnia is another common outcome of stress, as confirmed by a survey by the American Psychological Association. Many individuals reported that stress causes them to lose sleep at least once a month, leading to increased feelings of stress when they don’t sleep well.
Stress weakens immune function, making the body more susceptible to infectious diseases like colds, as shown by a study from Carnegie Mellon University in USA. Heart-related diseases are also linked to prolonged stress, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke according to research from the University of Gothenburg in Sweden. Chronic stress affects the heart and cardiovascular system leading to potential damage over time. Gastrointestinal diseases, chronic pain conditions, cancer and autoimmune diseases are also exacerbated by stress as demonstrated by various studies from around the world.
Research has shown a strong association between stress levels and exacerbation of various health conditions. Understanding this impact on physical health outcomes could lead to better prevention strategies for managing chronic stress and its related health problems further research is needed to explore this complex interplay between stress and physical health outcomes in more depth
