Ways Chronic Stress Can Affect
Your Body –
From Head to Toe
Most of us know that stress affects our health.
Like houseguests who have overstayed their welcome,
long-term stress can disrupt your body’s normal
function, throwing your various systems into chaos.
Here are the numerous ways
chronic stress can impact your body:
Hair
problems
• Premature graying
Tension
Headaches
• Telogen effluvium
(temporary hair loss)
Insomnia
Problems falling asleep or staying asleep
• Hormonal acne
breakouts
• Rosacea, psoriasis
and eczema flareups
• Shingles outbreak
Cold, sweaty hands and feet
Supressed immune
system
Increased risk for heart disease
Digestive
problems
Increased sensitivity to pain and bloating; bowel issues
Back and muscle pain
Sexual
Dysfunction
• Men: Erectile dysfunction
• Women: Difficulty with sexual
arousal and/or orgasm
Frequent
urge to
urinate
Skin problems
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Excess
belly fat
10
10
11
11
12
12
13
13
SOURCES
American Psychological Association | The American Institute of Stress | U.S. National Library of Medicine
• Men: Low sperm count
• Women: Ability to conceive;
irregular or missed periods
Reproductive
health
