Richard Rooney M.D on the Effects of Stress on Your Body & Health

The mid-day headache you get during work, or the stiffness in your neck may be a result of a high-stress level. Stress can affect your health in numerous ways; however, it’s not always something you might recognize. You may commonly mistake something stress related, for an illness or something more serious. It’s important to try and identify the difference by being aware of your stress level. Stress can come in multiple forms and often disguise itself as a tension headache, or even being over-tired. Here are some additional common symptoms that occur with a high-stress level:

• Chest Pain
• Extreme Fatigue
• Tension Headache
• Muscle Tension or Pain
• Stomach Issues
• Insomnia and Other Sleep Related Issues

These physical symptoms of stress are somewhat common, and when recognized, can be worked on and reduced. If you think you have a high-stress level, and often feel significantly overwhelmed, you should consult your physician to prevent the risk of developing other health problems such as high blood pressure or heart disease. Stress doesn’t only affect your body physically, but it also has a serious impact on your mental health and general behavior. If you’re under a lot of stress, from work or other life events, you may feel an overwhelming amount of anxiety, or even exhibit symptoms of depression. Other symptoms of high-stress levels impact on your mental health and general behavior can be:

• Lack of motivation
• Little to no focus
• Anger or Irritability
• Social Withdrawal
• Drug or Alcohol Use

While stress is generally unavoidable, there are ways you can go about managing it better, to lessen its effects on your physical and mental health. Noticing the signs and acknowledging them is the first step in practicing stress management techniques. When you find you’re being affected too much from daily troubles or worries, you can try participating in new activities such as fitness classes, or a more relaxing activity such as yoga or meditation. Activities like these will give you an outlet and something new to focus on; they’re also beneficial for your health in general. Try to develop healthy routine habits, like having a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep. Lack of sleep can increase your stress levels and make them more challenging to manage. If you’re having severe symptoms, or don’t feel as if your symptoms are stress related, you should consult your doctor or seek medical attention.

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This article was originally published on richardrooneymd.net

About the Author

Richard Rooney M.D. is a board certified orthopaedic spine surgeon who works in Seattle, Washington at his own private practice. He resides in Seattle, WA with his wife and two sons. Throughout his career, Richard Rooney M.D. has distinguished himself as a renowned orthopaedic surgeon. He truly loves the immersive nature of his work and the fact that he's able to help people live better, less painful lives. Through his practice, Seattle Spine Group, Richard focuses on treatment for back pain, neck pain, radiculopathy, and sciatica. They recently introduced an entire spectrum of spine care and stem cell therapy care with a focus on disk replacement.

When Richard Rooney M.D. isn't busy at work as a spine surgeon, he likes to spend his time outdoors with his wife and sons, enjoying all the natural and manmade beauty that his home state of Washington has to offer.
For more of Dr. Rooney's insights, visit his blogs:

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