We’ve seen a few cases here in the clinic of symptoms that aren’t related to an injury, repetitive strain, or any of the other symptoms usually associated with back pain or muscle strains and sprains.
In today’s increasingly frantic world we are all exposed to increased stress in one form or another, and this stress if not managed correctly can manifest in physical symptoms.
These symptoms can appear to have no cause, they don’t show up in traditional medical examinations or tests, which leaves a patient more confused and stressed when nothing ‘appears’ to be wrong.
Let’s look at some of the physical symptoms of stress:
- Difficulty breathing- Stress can lead to shallow breathing and even panic attacks.
- Blurred vision or sore eyes- Stress hormones can affect your vision over time.
- Sleep problems- Insomnia or disrupted sleep patterns are common when you feel stressed.
- Fatigue- Constantly feeling tired, drained, or have brain fog.
- Muscle aches and headaches or migraines– Stress can cause muscular tension and pain, headaches and migraines can be induced with prolonged stress.
- Chest pains and high blood pressure- These worrying effects can happen as a result of continued stress or high-stress episodes.
- Indigestion and IBS- Stress can affect your digestive system resulting in indigestion and irritable bowel type symptoms.
- Feeling sick, dizzy or fainting- Stress can lead to these warning signs that something feels seriously wrong.
- Sudden weight gain or loss- The stress hormone cortisol can impact appetite and metabolism.
- Rashes or itchy skin- Some skin conditions can be stress-related due to the increase in abnormal exposure to stress hormones in your system.
- Changes in the menstrual cycle- Stress may cause irregular periods or an absence of periods for a prolonged period.
- Loss of focus or sex drive- Stress can cause profound emotional and physical disruptive changes in normal activity.
Remember prolonged stress can exacerbate any or all of these symptoms leading to more serious health issues.
If you’re experiencing stress and noticing any of these symptoms, consider seeking support and practicing stress management techniques.
For more information have a look at www.mind.org.uk or www.nhs.uk.
