by Andrea Thrush
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, and this information is for educational and informational purposes only. Reading this article does not create a coach-client relationship, and you have full personal responsibility for your health and wellness. Please seek professional medical or psychological help if you have any concerns or issues.
Knowing the health effects of chronic stress can be an important first step in the process of managing it. There are many additional factors that can lead to the health issues listed here (nutrition, exercise, type A personality, etc.), but being aware of the role stress plays can be helpful. It is important to note that stress alone does not cause these health problems; it is just a small piece of the puzzle, but one that we can manage in order to help improve our health.
Ongoing chronic stress that is not managed can increase the risk of:
- Cholesterol (LDL, also known as the “bad” cholesterol) levels can increase, leading to increased risk of heart disease or stroke because the cholesterol sticks to the walls of the blood vessels and can block blood flow (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3). This is from stress hormones that unlock fats and triglycerides, while chronic low-grade inflammation is elevated (Harvard Health, 2024). Even something so “simple” as a football team losing the Super Bowl was found to influence the increased rates of death from heart attacks and heart disease (Greenberg, 2025).
- Hypertension (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3). This is partly a result of when the body releases vasopressin and oxytocin as a part of the stress response (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 2). These two hormones together can result in higher blood pressure. In addition, relaxation techniques can help increase nitric oxide levels in our bodies, which can help reduce blood pressure and help improve our mood (Harvard Health, 2024).
- Stroke due to higher cholesterol levels affecting the blood vessels blocking blood flow to the brain (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3).
- Coronary Heart Disease from higher cholesterol levels affecting the blood flow to the heart (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3). Heart disease programs that include stress management have been found to decrease death rates, reduced hospitalization rates (for heart problems), and improved heart function (Harvard Health, 2024).
- Ulcers (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3) and irritable bowel syndrome (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 2). One theory about stress’s role in ulcers is that the bacteria known to cause the majority of ulcers (Helicobacter pylori) irritate the lining of the stomach and may also increase the acid in the stomach, leading to ulcers (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3).
- Migraine headaches because of increased blood flow to the head during times of stress, although lifestyle as a whole should be addressed for this condition (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3).
- Tension headaches due to muscle tension when stressed (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3)
- Cancer: While research in this area is ongoing and there are several causes of cancer, T-lymphocytes help fight cancer cells, and they decrease in number during stress (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3). Simply put, chronic stress can hurt our immune systems, which can hurt our bodies’ abilities to respond to cancer cells (Harvard Health, 2024).
- Allergies, asthma, and hay fever: T-lymphocytes also help deal with the antigens that enter the body that kick allergies and asthma in, and due to their reduction in times of stress, the body’s ability to handle these antigens declines (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3).
- Rheumatoid Arthritis: Flare-ups often seem to come after stressful times (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3).
- Decreased immune system function, due to the fact that stress can decrease your white blood cells, which your body needs to help fight viruses (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3). Several studies have found lower levels of antibodies during stressful times (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3). This affects everything from our chances of catching a common cold to the influence of developing cancer (Greenberg, 2025).
- Backaches are common due to muscle tension from stress or muscle weakness (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3).
- Sports injuries are also more likely to occur after stressful times (Greenberg, 2025, chapter 3).
- Diabetes: It has been found that diabetes is not caused by stress, though stress can make it more difficult to handle this condition (Harvard Health, 2024).
There is a light at the end of the tunnel—remember that stress is only one piece of the puzzle in these health conditions. Next month we will get into methods of coping and managing stress in order to help improve our moods and health outcomes!
References
Greenberg, J. S. (2025). Comprehensive stress management (2025 Release). McGraw Hill.
Harvard Health. (2024). Stress Management—Special Health Report. Harvard University.
