Causes of Stress: Types, Symptoms, Effects, Management Tips

Stress, from a biological and psychological view, or perspective, is described as a response to a change or a process of reaction to a vision of threat. It also refers to the environmental or physical pressures that may cause the reaction from a human.

Keyterms: Stress, Biological view, Psychological view, Human, Environment, Disease, Stomata, Adrenaline, Cortisol, Noradrenaline

---

What is Stress?

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

Stress arouses the release of hormones such as adrenaline, cortisol, and noradrenaline, which result in, bringing many changes in the human body that make it ready for the hit or run situations in life. In many situations, stress supports survival as it will force the being to adapt to continuously changing environmental situations.

People experience stress from many factors, including our surroundings, our body, and also one's thought processes.

For example, in reaction to very hot or dry climatic conditions, greens prevent the loss of water by blocking their tiny pores known as stomata present on their leaves. This kind of adaptive stress is generally known as eustress.

But, when an organism’s reaction to stress is too much or when the stress is too mighty, disease or end of life of a being may occur. This kind of maladaptive stress is also known as distress. Humans react to stress by general physiological methods, same as all the other beings; but, in human beings, stress is a very complex feeling, which is affected and complicated by the changes, one’s lifestyle, technologies, and many other factors.

Read Also: Amoebiasis

---

Reasons for Stress

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

Various factors are reasons for the cause of stress, and all individuals have various stress-causing factors. As stated by research conducted, work-related stress is one of the most prominent reasons for stress. Various Other causes of stress include:

• Marriage or spouse related situations
• Unemployment in young citizens
• Health-related issues
• Work-related pressure
• No support from close people.
• Traumatic incidents or accidents
• mental trauma/ weak mental health
• Financial situations
• Busy or strict working situations

---

Symptoms of Stress

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

The symptoms of stress may be different from one person to another. However, the most similar symptoms include the following symptoms:

• Anxiety 
• Insomnia (sleep deprivation)
• Migraines 
• Dizziness 
• Depression
• Weight gain
• Hypertension
• Heart disease
• Shortness of breath
• Tension
• Poor memory 
• Unable to concentrate on things

---

Types of Stress

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), stress can be divided into three different forms depending on its characteristics, symptoms, duration, and treatment methods.

1. Acute stress: This is the most general and prominent type of stress and is caused by overthinking or imagining things regarding the pressures of past situations or further needs in the upcoming future.
2. Episodic acute stress: This is the type of stress that occurs when a person or being gets a daily dose of acute stress.
3. Chronic stress: This is the type of stress which happens when a person feels or is feeling stuck up in a bad state.

In human beings, acute stress is specified by the danger that might occur within a short limit of time and that initiates the hit or run or the fight or flight reaction of the sympathetic nervous system in the being.  Avoiding an automobile accident just by a millisecond and being chased by an animal are a few examples of acute stress.

Chronic stress is described as the consistent presence of sources such as frustration or anxiety issues that a human being comes across daily. A bad job situation, chronic illness, and abuse incurred during conditions or adult life situations are good examples of factors that can be caused by chronic stress. This variant of stress includes long-term invoking of the fight-or-flight reaction. Traumatic stress is described by the happening of a life-threatening situation that stirred up fear and chaos in one’s mind. Climatic shocks or disasters, fires, and wars are a few examples of situations that can cause traumatic stress in a person; these situations might even lead to the creation of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Researchers have stated a statistical link between coronary heart disease and individuals exhibiting stressful behavioral patterns designated “Type A.” These patterns are seen in lifestyles described by impatience and a sense of time urgency, hard-driving competitiveness, and preoccupation with vocational and related deadlines.

Biochemical changes or hormonal changes play a major role in physiological responses to stress; these chemical reactions or changes may result in psychological changes. Often chemical changes linked with stress will be an aftermath of stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system, mainly the fight-or-flight reaction. In acute stress, this response will result in the release of chemicals known as catecholamines, which also involve epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol, from the adrenal glands. These substances make the body ready to react to unknown dangers by increasing heart rate, improving oxygen levels movement to the brain, dilating blood vessels in skeletal muscles, and increasing sugar i.e. blood glucose levels.

In chronic stress, continuous stimulation of the fight-or-flight reaction will lead to constant generation and production of catecholamines. This has various physiological consequences, including hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels), which can result in type II diabetics, and hypertension (high blood pressure), which can result in cardiovascular disease. As some of the catecholamines like the norepinephrine chemicals act as neurotransmitters in the brain, these chemicals can change cognition and many mental procedures, which lead to poor concentration, mood swings, anger, depression, and anxiety situations. And also, long-term stress-induced cortisol production from the adrenal glands in the body can lead to depressed immune function, resulting in increased risk levels of illness.

Increased levels of cortisol also are linked with weight gain, mainly with the concentration of excess abdominal fat. Increased norepinephrine release directly by neurons of the sympathetic nervous system can result in depletion of stem cell numbers in hair follicles, which may result in graying of the hair at a young age.

Researchers say that people who consume a high-calorie food diet are highly vulnerable to weight gain when they face chronic stress, which results in increased levels of insulin hormone. High sugar(insulin) levels in a small part of the brain are called the amygdala which gradually numb the neurons to the generated hormone. Once it gets numb, the neurons simultaneously increase their production of the chemical neurotransmitter molecule neuropeptide Y, which leads to overeating and weight gain.

Read More:

---

Effects of Stress on Your Health

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

There are various physical changes that a person endures during the stress period. These physical evolutions may include- headaches, agitation, mood swings, insomnia, and more. Increased development of stress can hugely affect health, leading to various conditions such as:

• Depression
• Fatigue
• Atherosclerosis- blood vessel-related problem
• Fertility issues
• Breathing suffocation
• Weight increase or decrease
•  Heartbeat or blood pressure issues
• High blood pressure
• Heart-related issues
• Stomach Cramps and constipation

---

Tips for Managing Stress

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

• Always try to have a positive attitude.
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet
• Do any kind of physical activity or Exercise regularly
• 8 hours of sleep is a minimal requirement.
• Do meditation and breathing exercises daily.

---

Treatment for Stress

[Click Here for Sample Questions]

Different techniques have been successful in curing people with stress problems. Moderate stress can be treated with exercise, meditation (for example yoga), adequate rest, sleep, and changes of diet, such as decreasing intake of alcoholic drinks and caffeine-induced foods like coffee. Severe stress may need the help of psychotherapy to unveil and work through the underlying stress.

A kind of behavior therapy also known as biofeedback allows the person affected to become more known to the internal procedures and more by gaining some control over body reactions to stress. A few times, a change of environmental surroundings or living situation may result in therapeutic situations. In various cases, involving in a support group or increasing social connections with friends and family can decrease stress and thereby increase one’s overall health.

Stress is a general part of life, and it may represent itself in many different ways.  Stress isn't something wrong or bad; actually, it can be considered as a motivating factor in a person’s life, which could help the body to prepare for any kind of potential dangers or any life-threatening situations.

Read More:

---

Things To Remember

• One should remember that stress can be cured.
• Stress is the result of many factors such as mental stress, family issues, many other issues related to work and personal life.
• When dealing with stress one should be disciplined to follow a few habits.
• Food, body fitness, mental health, and surroundings play a key role in stress reduction.