Most common signs of stress include menstrual dysfunctions, premenstrual syndrome, cravings, “upset” stomach, cuts and bruises, hair loss, itching, “stressed” skin, chest pain and palpitations, eyelid spasms and “ringing” ears.
Signs of stress – Menstrual dysfunctions
Very often women miss their regular periods because of stress. Actually the stress is one of main causes for irregular periods. During stress women body produce endorphins which inhibit the release of reproductive hormones and changed hormonal balance is the reason for missed and/or irregular periods.
Signs of stress – Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) or Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
Premenstrual Syndrome is another body reaction to the stress in women – actually all symptoms of the PMS are warning signals which “tell” that there is something wrong in women body. Stress can upset hormonal balance and nervous system and body is reacting with PMS symptoms and/or PMDD symptoms.
Signs of stress – Cravings
Stress could cause loss of appetite but under stress you can satisfy your body by eating the food you crave – sweets, cakes, chocolate, junk foods (even in big portions). Binge eating and food addiction could be very typical sign of stress.
Signs of stress – “Upset” Stomach
It was noted the natural waving movement in the muscles of the gut that carries food along works overtime or slows down when you are under stress, and this can lead to stomach pain and diarrhoea or alternating constipation. Some women don’t digest food during stress or don’t digest certain products. Sometimes the previously harmless foods can trigger stomach problems (unexpected chemical reaction in the stomach) – bloating, gas, diarrhea, constipation. It also should be noted that long-term stress can be a cause of stomach diseases.
Signs of stress – Cuts and bruises
Sometimes women discover marks and/or bruises on their bodies without knowing or remembering any injuries. Actually cuts and bruises could happen during stress – during stress body produce endorphins (body’s natural pain relievers), so that an occasional trauma can go unnoticed.
Signs of stress – Hair loss
Recently was discovered that stress can alter the uptake of certain trace elements and amino acids essential for hair growth. It was also noted that high stress levels can increase levels of hormone prolactin in women and this appears to influence the uptake of testosterone and its metabolism. In women susceptible to hair loss, this can lead to thinning. Stress can also cause narrowing of the arteries, restricting blood flow to the scalp.
Signs of stress – Itching
Many years ago it was noted that stress could trigger eczema, psoriasis or skin allergic reactions. When you are in stress, blood flow is diverted away from the skin towards the vital organs and this can exacerbate existing allergies and rashes. Stress can also trigger the release of histamine, the chemical implicated in causing allergic reactions.
Signs of stress – “Stressed” skin
Some experts call the skin “mirror of internal organs”. At the same time, it is well known that skin is the largest and most visible organ of our body. Skin is reacting to the stress very quickly by changing color in certain places (becoming red or white/pearl), by producing acne, by triggering flushes or rushes. Generally speaking, if your skin tends to be dry, stress makes it drier and if you are inclined to spots, stress will bring them out.
Signs of stress – Chest pain and palpitations
During stress our body is usually lacking energy, oxygen, essential nutrients which are very important for normal functioning of immune system, cardio-vascular system, breathing system and brain. As a result, the stress restricts breathing, increase blood pressure, change heart beats and heart rate (making it irregular). Women in stress could have chect pain and/or palpitation.
Signs of stress – Eyelid spasms
The eyelids contain a large number of sensory nerves and they are one of the body’s last areas to relax. Muscular spasms are caused by a build-up of lactic acid. When women are stressed they breathe badly and lactic acid (naturally occurring waste product in the body) is not leaving body. This can also lead to stiffness in the neck and shoulders.
Signs of stress – “Ringing” ears
“Ringing” ears are known as warning/protesting signals of your body – response to the stress. In its normal state the ear sends a stream of nerve impulses to the brain which are interpreted by brain centers as sound. But stress can be the trigger that makes the ear sends the abnormal stream of impulses which the brain interprets as tinnitus. This is how women in stress could feel “ringing” in ears.
