Experts describe how long-term stress can lead to serious physical consequences such as cardiovascular disease, inflammation and gastrointestinal problems.
“I think people really underestimate just how big the effects are,” said Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, director of the Institute for Behavioral Medicine Research at Ohio State University College of Medicine. When you experience stress, your brain triggers the release of a cascade of hormones — such as cortisol, epinephrine , and norepinephrine — that produce physiological changes.
While short-term inflammation usually helps the body heal — think about the swelling that develops around a sprained ankle, enhancing blood flow to the area — too much or chronic inflammation can turn against healthy cells, making you more vulnerable to infection, less responsive to vaccines and slower to heal. What’s more, the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines can travel to the brain and increase the risk of depression.
Stress also can interfere with the skin’s ability to hold onto water — and the cascade of stress hormones that are released prompts the sebaceous glands in the skin to produce more oil, which can trigger acne breakouts, said Joshua Zeichner, an associate professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. “Within days of a stressful event, we see downstream effects on the skin. The impact of stress on the skin is real.
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