The following are symptoms of the acute “flight-or-fight” stress reaction:
- Fast beating, racing heart, often palpable
- Blood pressure soars
- Fast racing breath
- Digestion slows down
- Sweaty palms. Stress causes extreme heat in the body. Without perspiration to cool the body down, we would spontaneously combust!
- Dry mouth
- Muscles tense
- Blood clots faster
- Glucose and fats pour into the blood to provide energy for all the action taking place inside the body
- Rushing thoughts
- Irrational fears and anxiety
Stress, disorders and disease:
Long-term and unmanaged stress can cause and exacerbate the following:
- High blood pressure
- Heart disease
- Allergies, hives, hay fever
- Asthma
- Migraines
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
(Health24, updated January 2009)