Stress is a normal part of life. Everyone has dealt with it at one time or another. Whether it’s at home, the office, or out in the wide world. Stress will always be present in life. Whether it’s raising kids, working toward upcoming deadlines, or in romantic relationships. It is not always a bad thing. It’s also a necessary part of life but when it becomes overwhelming, this leads to serious health risks. First, I’m going to list symptoms of chronic stress, and then, I’ll explain how they can lead to problems down the road. 

 Symptoms of stress to look out for

• Headaches
• Poor Diet
• Insomnia
• Chest pain or rapid heartbeat
• Poor Immune System
• Chronic Pain
• Grinding teeth, and jaw clenching
• Skin issues (Acne, eczema)
• Low energy
• Increased alcohol or drug use
• GI Issues (nausea, diarrhea, constipation)
• Low sex drive

Should I be concerned?

One symptom isn’t cause for concern. If you’re stressed over the long term, dealing with many symptoms. This could lead to serious health issues in the future. Here are the long-term consequences of prolonged stress. 

• Heart Disease
• Chronic Pain and Muscle Tension
• Mental Health Issues
• Alcohol or Drug Addiction
• Sexual Dysfunction

Let’s break down each one

Heart Disease

This is a big one. According to the CDC, Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. What causes heart disease? Poor diet and obesity, lack of exercise, and excessive alcohol use. These are also symptoms of prolonged stress and go hand in hand. Heart disease also raises the risk of heart attack and stroke. Both are life-altering catastrophes.   

Chronic Pain and Muscle Tension

I going to lump a few symptoms together for this part. Long-term muscle tension, chronic pain, and headaches have far-reaching effects. Any one of these symptoms can lead to not being as active as you should. Years of muscle tension can keep you out of the gym. Random aches and pain will do the same as well as tension headaches. These symptoms compound with obesity and heart disease are recipes for trouble. 

Mental Health Issues

Another complication from chronic or prolonged stress is mental health issues. Constant stress weighs on the mind. This could lead to anxiety issues or depression. Modern life, as well as Covid 19, has caused depression and anxiety rates to skyrocket. All these can lead to serious health issues.

Addiction

Another serious issue with chronic stress drinking more alcohol or using drugs. Either raise the chance of addiction. Even if you are not addicted, substance abuse has many serious ramifications. Symptoms range from mental health issues all the way to liver failure or overdose. Don’t take this issue lightly.

Sexual Dysfunction

Lastly, prolonged stress might cause sexual dysfunction. This presents itself in many ways. It could be low sex drive which can affect many other areas of life. There’s also delayed ejaculation. This can cause serious emotional issues and also affect relationships. Finally, prolonged stress can cause impotence which could drastically affect a person’s wellbeing.

I’m worried about my stress, what should I do?

If you like so many people out there, your dealing with a lot of stress. Dr. Raymond Zakhari wants to help you manage the overwhelming stress in your life. He is a triple board certified nurse practitioner and owner of Metro Medical Direct. Dr. Zakhari offers exclusive concierge care in the Manhattan area. He provides discrete medical care around your schedule. Metro Medical Direct delivers personal medical care in the comfort of your home, or office. He will get you on the road to better living. 

If you would like to speak to Dr. Zakhari you can book an appointment here. 

Also, check out his podcast The Psychology of it All. Or listen to it on Apple Podcasts. 

Ian Matonti is a freelance writer who’s passionate about spreading mental health awareness. Read his blog at www.madmentalhealth.com.