Page 39 - Seniorstoday September-2023 Issue
P. 39
factors can alter your libido. Prolonged Maintaining a balanced lifestyle, eating
stress tends to lower the testosterone levels healthy foods and managing your stress
in a man which can lead to erectile issues. can promote a healthier gut.
Prolonged stress in women can affect ● Appetite changes and weight gain-
their menstrual cycles and menopause Stress often affects your appetite, causing
symptoms. variations in eating patterns. It can lead
● Acne- Too much stress can lead to severe to overeating or loss of appetite, both of
bouts of acne. A common reason for this which can negatively impact your weight
is because when you feel stressed out, and overall health. Individuals with higher
you tend to touch their faces more than cortisol and insulin levels and higher levels
usual which spreads bacteria and germs. of chronic stress are more likely to gain
Stress also causes your sebaceous glands weight in the future.
to produce extra oil which can lead to an
increase in acne. Hormonal changes, an
erratic diet and poor gut health along with
stress can significantly increase acne.
● Muscular tension- When you’re
stressed, your muscles tense up as a
protective instinct and release once you
relax. However, if you are constantly under
stress, your muscles may not get a chance
to relax which can lead to muscle tension.
Tight muscles can cause headaches, back ● Chest pain or rapid heartbeat- Intense
pain, shoulder pain and body pain. Over stress can trigger chest pain or discomfort
time, this can lead to severe consequences due to an increased heart rate and
like stopping to exercise and turning to pain constricted blood vessels. Feeling like your
medication for relief. heart is racing is your body’s response to
● Chronic pain- Aches and pains are a chronic stress which mimics symptoms
common complaint among all age groups. of a heart attack. However if you are
But it can increase when you are stressed experiencing chest pain, it’s crucial to seek
due to increased levels of cortisol. medical attention to rule out any serious
● Frequent sickness- If you feel like you’re issues.
constantly battling some illness or another, ● High blood pressure- High blood
chances are you are stressed and that is pressure can be exacerbated by chronic
the culprit. Stress may take a toll on your stress, as stress triggers the release of
immune system and weaken it significantly. hormones that narrow blood vessels and
● Digestive issues- Stress can disrupt your elevate heart rate. Prolonged stress can
gut-brain axis, thus impacting digestion lead to hypertension. Managing your stress
and your overall gut health. The release of is important to prevent and control your
stress hormones can lead to gastrointestinal blood pressure levels.
issues like bloating, constipation, diarrhoea, ● Sweating- Stress can lead to increased
acidity, cramps, IBS, altered bowel sweating, notably “psychological
patterns and other serious digestive issues. sweating,” triggered by stress and anxiety.
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #51 | SEPTEMBER 2023 39
