Effects of Stress on Your Organs

Stress isn't just a psychologically uncomfortable phenomenon. It also affects your body. Here just some of the organs stress damages.
Effects of Stress on Your Organs

Last update: 15 December, 2022

Stress is a physical and emotional sensation of tension that can occur as your body reacts to different situations or feelings. It is usually triggered by frustration, anger, or nerves. But it’s not just uncomfortable feelings – the effects of stress on your organs can be devastating.

Some degree of stress is as a positive thing because this natural reaction of your body can help you avoid danger or risk.

But most people experience very high levels of stress at some point in their lives. This can lead to serious problems for their physical and emotional health. Let’s look at the effects of stress on your organs.

With our modern lifestyles so hectic and demanding, the incidence of people under high stress is increasing. Further complicating the problem is that the more a person feels stressed the harder it is to control.

The most worrisome aspect of this is that most people suffering from stress don’t take measures to reduce it. Ultimately, this can lead to a heavy toll on their health.

A recent study reported by the American Psychological Association (APA) found that 40% of adults who are under stress have trouble sleeping.

But in addition to this, did you know that stress is actually related to the alteration of the function of certain organs in your body? Yes, there are several organs stress damages. That being said, it can reduce your quality of life.

To give you a better idea of how stress affects your life, we’re going to discuss the effects of stress on your organs by listing some of the organs affected.

Your skin

One of the effects of stress on your organs can be acne
Stress causes your body to respond with inflammation, which causes the pores of your skin to become blocked. That blockage can result in skin that’s red and irritated. It can also lead to the accumulation of oils on the face.

In sum, stress can contribute to the appearance of acne.

The lungs

Your lung function can be weakened by stress, lowering your immune system response to certain external factors.

A study at the University of Sao Paolo in Brazil found that there could be a relationship between asthma and stress as a result of this weakening of the lungs.

Don’t forget to read: 3 Teas For Strengthening Your Lungs

The heart

The ongoing state of tension caused by high stress levels can increase your cholesterol, blood pressure, and the amount of triglycerides in your bloodstream.

In an article published by the National Library of Medicine, it was found that people who suffer from chronic stress have problems maintaining a healthy heart rate.

The eyes

The effects of stress on your organs can affect the eyes
A study performed at the Bavarian Clinic – European Eye Institute suggested that excessive physical and emotional stress can cause tremors around the eyes because it triggers a small muscle whose function is to raise and lower the eyelids.

In addition to this, stress is related to inflammation of the eyes and blurred vision.

Your liver

The accumulation of stress hormones can alter certain cells manufactured by the liver that are responsible for destroying the hepatocytes that can cause liver disease.

The brain

Too much stress increases the body’s production of a hormone known as cortisol. Excess cortisol levels can adversely affect the frontal cortex of the brain, which is responsible for decision-making and memory.

Kidneys

The effects of stress on your organs are bad news for your kidneys
One of the effects of stress on your organs is that cortisol levels increase. When this happens, your kidneys excrete phosphate, which in turn can cause muscle weaknesses, bone disorders, such as rickets, and more.

The intestines

The health of your intestines is directly related to the overall health of your body, which is why it’s extremely important that you care for your colon and the entire digestive system.

When you’re stressed, problems can arise in the colon causing gas, abdominal pain, and inflammation.

How can you fight the effects of stress on your organs?

The effects of stress on your organs can be mitigated by exercise
The best way to control the effects stress has on your body is to try and avoid exposing your self to it in the first place. To help manage the stress that’s becoming a part of your daily life, consider the following guidelines that can help you fight and eliminate it, to keep it from negatively affecting your health.

Visit this article: 7 Practical Tips to Reduce Stress

If you’re one of the many thousands of people who are concerned about high levels of stress, try any of the following recommendations:

  • Practice relaxation techniques like yoga or dancing; go for a swim or try aromatherapy
  • Get some exercise every day
  • Plan your activities around the time you realistically have available to you
  • Take breaks during work to stretch or get some fresh air
  • Take the time to indulge yourself and do things you enjoy
  • Steer clear of negative people
  • Make positive changes to your diet
  • Increase your intake of water
  • Avoid bad habits like tobacco use and excessive consumption of alcohol

This text is provided for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a professional. If in doubt, consult your specialist.