Living in the modern world can be very stressful. According to medical experts, it’s perfectly fine to be stressed from time to time. However, it is an entirely different ball game if you are constantly stressed. High levels of stress, if left unmanaged, can certainly put your health on the line.
You may not know it but you may already be way too stressed. Below you will find some of the telltale signs that your stress levels is off the roof. If you experience some or all of these, take action!
Hair Loss
Do you find lots of hair strands on your pillow or shower drain? It can be because of what’s called “alopecia areata” which is commonly linked to severe stress. It’s said to be more common in stressed out young women as well as teenage girls. Worry not because it’s something that’s temporary. Once you are able to manage your stress, the problem will stop.
Headache
Do you feel like there’s a tight band around your head, which is sometimes accompanied by pain in the eye? It’s what doctors are calling “tension headache” and it’s usually associated with high levels of stress. You can always pop a painkiller in your mouth, or you can engage in stress-busting activities to make it go away.
Shoulder Pain
While you’re stressed, your muscles tend to tense up all the time, including those that are in your shoulders. Experts say that it is not just about your posture, but also sometimes due to constant pressure or worry. Relaxing can help loosen those shoulder muscles, keeping them from feeling tight and achy.
Insomnia
Certainly, being stressed can keep you from enjoying a good night’s sleep. However, having long quality sleep at night is vital for keeping at bay stress and other problems. At the end of your day, make sure that you perform activities that can help lower your stress levels — from having a massage, doing yoga, listening to music to drinking chamomile tea.
Weird Dreams
Other than insomnia, there is another night-time telltale sign that you are super stressed: having weird dreams. Since it is very much likely for you to be roused from sleep after encountering odd or frightening visions while in dreamland, deprivation of sleep ensues. Before you hit the sack, look for ways to eliminate stress.
Poor Memory
Having trouble recalling names, phone numbers and other important pieces of information lately? Then your stress levels may be off the charts. Doctors say that cortisol, a stress hormone, can actually shrink your brain’s memory hub, which is the hippocampus. So to keep your memory sharp, remember to keep your stress levels low.
UTI
People who are leading very busy lives often sacrifice bathroom breaks, and this can certainly increase urinary tract infection (UTI) risk. Putting off stepping foot in the bathroom is said to be one of the biggest risk factor of UTIs. The solution? Make sure to pee each time that there is an urge to do so.
ED
Males who are under a lot of stress all the time may have erectile dysfunction (ED), which can definitely have a huge impact on their sex lives. Many of them drink alcohol, too, in order to lower their inhibitions, but it’s something that can actually make ED worse. Doctors say that sometimes the blue pill is not necessary — managing stress can do the trick.
Menstrual Cramps
Based on a Harvard study, women who are super stressed out were likely to experience severe menstrual cramps by more than twice compared to female participants who were less stressed. According to the involved scientists, it’s due to hormonal imbalance caused by stress. Naturally, keeping stress to a minimum can keep it at bay.
