Stress and Your Health

by US Department of Health and Human Services

I have two full time jobs - I'm a customer service center manager and a mom of two young kids. I see myself as a happy person and a hard worker. But last month, the commute to work, my job, the chores around the house, and trying to spend enough time with my kids was really stressing me out. I have to get up really early in the morning to get the kids ready for school, then it takes me so long to get to work that I'm in a bad mood by the time I get there. My office is short-staffed and we had a lot of deadlines to meet so I was working overtime. My home life suffered - traffic going home doesn't help my mood, and when I got there, I was just so tired I didn't want to do anything! But I was faced with making dinner and doing laundry. My kids need my attention too!

I wanted to handle my stress before it got the best of me. I talked with my boss about working later hours so I don't run into so much traffic and am in a better mood when I get there and get home. I asked my husband to pick up the kids from school, and he has offered to help more with dinner and the laundry. When he cooks, I go for a bike ride with my kids. I also started setting five minutes aside in the morning and in the afternoon at work for me to relax and take a deep breath. These small changes have made a big difference in my life!

What are some of the most common causes of stress?

Stress can arise for a variety of reasons. Stress can be brought about by a traumatic accident, death, or emergency situation. Stress can also be a side effect of a serious illness or disease.

There is also stress associated with daily life, the workplace, and family responsibilities. It's hard to stay calm and relaxed in our hectic lives. As women, we have many roles: spouse, mother, caregiver, friend, and/or worker. With all we have going on in our lives, it seems almost impossible to find ways to de-stress. But it's important to find those ways. Your health depends on it.

What are some early signs of stress?

Stress can take on many different forms, and can contribute to symptoms of illness. Common symptoms include headache, sleep disorders, difficulty concentrating, short-temper, upset stomach, job dissatisfaction, low morale, depression, and anxiety.

How do women tend to react to stress?

We all deal with stressful things like traffic, arguments with spouses, and job problems. Some researchers think that women handle stress in a unique way: we tend and befriend.

• Tend : women protect and care for their children
• Befriend : women seek out and receive social support

During stress, women tend to care for their children and find support from their female friends. Women's bodies make chemicals that are believed to promote these responses. One of these chemicals is oxytocin (ahk-see-toe-sin), which has a calming effect during stress. This is the same chemical released during childbirth and found at higher levels in breastfeeding mothers, who are believed to be calmer and more social than women who don't breastfeed. Women also have the hormone estrogen, which boosts the effects of oxytocin. Men, however, have high levels of testosterone during stress, which blocks the calming effects of oxytocin and causes hostility, withdrawal, and anger.

How does stress affect my body and my health?

Everyone has stress. We have short-term stress, like getting lost while driving or missing the bus. Even everyday events, such as planning a meal or making time for errands, can be stressful. This kind of stress can make us feel worried or anxious.

Other times, we face long-term stress, such as racial discrimination, a life-threatening illness, or divorce. These stressful events also affect your health on many levels. Long-term stress is real and can increase your risk for some health problems, like depression.

Both short and long-term stress can have effects on your body. Research is starting to show the serious effects of stress on our bodies. Stress triggers changes in our bodies and makes us more likely to get sick. It can also make problems we already have worse. It can play a part in these problems:

• trouble sleeping
• headaches
• constipation
• diarrhea
• irritability
• lack of energy
• lack of concentration
• eating too much or not at all
• anger
• sadness
• higher risk of asthma and arthritis flare-ups
• tension
• stomach cramping
• stomach bloating
• skin problems, like hives
• depression
• anxiety
• weight gain or loss
• heart problems
• high blood pressure
• irritable bowel syndrome
• diabetes
• neck and/or back pain
• less sexual desire
• harder to get pregnant

What are some of the most stressful life events?

Any change in our lives can be stressful - even some of the happiest ones like having a baby or taking a new job. Here are some of life's most stressful events.

• death of a spouse
• divorce
• marital separation
• spending time in jail
• death of a close family member
• personal illness or injury
• marriage
• pregnancy
• retirement

From the Holmes and Rahe Scale of Life Events (1967)

About the Author

The Department of Health & Human Services is the United States government's principal agency for protecting the health of all Americans and providing essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves. The department includes more than 300 programs, covering a wide spectrum of activities.