While stress is a fact of life for most people, it doesn’t have to wreak havoc on your physical health, as well. Unfortunately, for many people, it does just that. According to the 2024 American Psychological Association (APA) annual mental health study, more than 43 percent of U.S. adults polled reported feeling more anxious than the previous year. The top five stressors were the economy (77 percent), the U.S. election (73 percent), current events (70 percent), gun violence (69 percent), and personal and family safety (68 percent). In the 2020 poll, three in four adults (77 percent) in the U.S. reported experiencing health impacts due to stress.
“Frequent headaches, body aches—especially back and neck pains—abdominal symptoms. often associated with IBS or irritable bowel syndrome, heart racing or palpitations, chest tightness, and flare-ups of eczema or psoriasis, or changes in appetite are all common symptoms of stress,” says Daren Wu, M.D., chief medical officer at Open Door Family Medical Center. Here, he shares how stress can contribute to physical symptoms and a variety of health conditions.
What specific disorders are you seeing that are stress-related, and are you seeing more of this now than in the past?
Stress contributes to many of the chronic and acute conditions we treat in primary care. At Open Door, we see even higher rates of stress-related health issues because our patients face significant social and economic challenges or what we call “social determinants of health.” We see a lot of high blood pressure, diabetes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, migraines, abdominal symptoms, autoimmune disorders (like lupus and psoriasis), and chronic pain—all of these have clear links to chronic stress. The number has gone up significantly in the last few years, with added financial strain, housing insecurity, and caregiving burdens.
From a physical perspective, how does stress cause these health conditions?
Chronic stress activates the body’s “fight or flight” response, raising cortisol and adrenaline levels. In today’s world, with always-on, always-present stressors, big and small, the body is frequently in this ready-to-fight-or-run mode. Over time, this dysregulates blood pressure, blood sugar, immune response, and gut health, leading to the many real acute and chronic illnesses that we see today.
How do you know these disorders are stress-related and not simply physical in nature without a stress component?
Symptoms often worsen during stressful periods. You might notice physical changes when you are stressed—like before public speaking, taking a test, facing a competition, or dealing with difficult news. Common stress responses include chest tightness, a racing heart, digestive upset, sudden bathroom urgency, neck and shoulder tension, or headaches. These symptoms typically fade once the stressful situation passes. Effective treatment often involves not just managing symptoms with medication but also addressing the underlying stressors and providing additional support.
Is it the amount of stress, or is it the way the stress is managed that causes health issues?
The chronic stress that leads to health issues develops in two ways: unrelenting pressure builds up over time, and people lack adequate coping resources like time, support, therapy, or rest. Many people feel they don’t have space to decompress or heal, which transforms temporary stress into ongoing health problems. Others simply don’t know effective stress management techniques.
This explains why some people remain resilient under extreme pressure while others feel overwhelmed by situations that wouldn’t bother most people. The good news is that everyone can improve their stress management skills. Effective techniques include deep breathing, connecting with loved ones, finding purpose and meaning, developing spirituality (which doesn’t require organized religion), and spending time in nature. These approaches reduce stress and build long-term resilience.
Do you see a direct correlation between certain adverse events in one’s life (e.g. divorce, death or sickness of loved one, loss of job) and illness?
Absolutely, and many people recall certain life events or experiences that preceded an illness. Autoimmune conditions, dramatic weight increases (which by itself also drives higher probability of other illnesses), sleeping problems, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression, and anxiety are all more common after major stressors.
Once a patient has a stress-related disorder, is it only the physical problem itself that is treated?
No, effective treatment addresses both physical symptoms and underlying stress. While medications can be very helpful for managing symptoms, comprehensive care includes many non-medication approaches: improving sleep and exercise habits, trying yoga or meditation, strengthening social connections, exploring spirituality, pursuing hobbies, and connecting with behavioral health specialists. Sometimes addressing basic needs like food security or stable housing becomes the first step in the healing process. The goal is to treat the whole person, not just isolated symptoms.
What can be done proactively to reduce the likelihood of getting a stress-induced illness?
Prevention is always more effective than treatment. The same strategies that help manage existing conditions—prioritizing sleep, exercise, social connections, and stress management techniques—work even better when practiced before problems develop. Building these habits now creates resilience that protects against future health issues.
Wu sees the power of addressing stress daily at Open Door. He recalls a patient diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis during a period of extreme emotional distress. Her daughter was trapped in an abusive marriage overseas, and immigration concerns prevented her from helping. While she had all the physical symptoms and lab markers for rheumatoid arthritis and needed specialist care, once her daughter had safely joined her in this country, her symptoms disappeared completely within months. She no longer needed any medications.
“When we address the root causes of stress and build strong support systems, our bodies often have remarkable healing capacity. The earlier we invest in our wellbeing, the better equipped we become to handle life and its inevitable challenges while protecting our health.”
