1.
Stress Symptom: Weekend headaches
A
sudden drop in stress can prompt migraines, says Todd Schwedt, MD, director of
the Washington University Headache Center. (Here are 4 crazy things migraines
increase your risk of.) Stick closely to your weekday sleeping and eating
schedule to minimize other triggers.
2.
Stress Symptom: Awful period cramps
The
most stressed-out women are more than twice as likely to experience painful
menstrual cramps as those who are less tense, a Harvard study found.
Researchers blame a stress-induced imbalance of hormones. Hitting the gym can
soothe cramps and stress, research shows, by decreasing sympathetic nervous
system activity.
3.
Stress Symptom: An achy mouth
A
sore jaw can be a sign of teeth grinding, which usually occurs during sleep and
can be worsened by stress, says Matthew Messina, DDS, a consumer advisor to the
American Dental Association. Ask your dentist about a nighttime mouth guard—up
to 70% of people who use one reduce or stop grinding altogether.
4.
Stress Symptom: Odd dreams
Dreams
usually get progressively more positive as you sleep, so you wake up in a
better mood than you were in when you went to bed, says Rosalind Cartwright,
PhD, an emeritus professor of psychology at Rush University Medical Center. But
when you're stressed, you wake up more often, disrupting this process and
allowing unpleasant imagery to recur all night. (Find out what else your dreams
are trying to tell you.) Good sleep habits can help prevent this; aim for 7 to
8 hours a night, and avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime
5.
Stress Symptom: Bleeding gums
According
to a Brazilian analysis of 14 past studies, stressed-out people have a higher
risk of periodontal disease. Chronically elevated levels of the stress hormone
cortisol may impair the immune system and allow bacteria to invade the gums,
say researchers. (Here are 7 weird things your teeth are trying to tell you.)
If you're working long hours and eating dinner at your desk, keep a toothbrush
on hand. And "protect your mouth by exercising and sleeping more, which
will help lower stress," says Preston Miller, DDS, past president of the
American Academy of Periodontology.
6.
Stress Symptom: Out-of-nowhere acne
Stress
increases the inflammation that leads to breakouts and adult acne, says Gil
Yosipovitch, MD, a clinical professor of dermatology at Wake Forest University.
Smooth your skin with a lotion containing skin-sloughing salicylic acid or
bacteria-busting benzoyl peroxide, plus a noncomedogenic moisturizer so skin
won't get too dry. If your skin doesn't respond to treatment within a few
weeks, see your doctor for more potent meds.
7.
Stress Symptom: A sweet tooth
Don't
automatically blame your chocolate cravings on your lady hormones—stress is a
more likely trigger. When University of Pennsylvania researchers surveyed pre-
and postmenopausal women, they found only a small decrease in the prevalence of
chocolate cravings after menopause—smaller than could be explained by just a
hormonal link. (Satisfy that craving in a healthy way with these 10
not-so-guilty chocolate treats.) Study authors say it's likely stress, or other
factors that can trigger women's hankering for chocolate.
8.
Stress Symptom: Itchy skin
A
Japanese study of more than 2,000 people found that those with chronic itch
(known as pruritis) were twice as likely to be stressed out as those without
the condition. Although an annoying itch problem can certainly cause stress,
experts say it's likely that feeling anxious or tense also aggravates
underlying conditions like dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. "The stress
response activates nerve fibers, causing an itchy sensation," explains
Yosipovitch.
9.
Stress Symptom: Worse-than-usual allergies
In
a 2008 experiment, researchers from Ohio State University College of Medicine
found that allergy sufferers had more symptoms after they took an
anxiety-inducing test, compared with when they performed a task that did not
make them tense. Stress hormones may stimulate the production of IgE, a blood
protein that causes allergic reactions, says study author Janice
Kiecolt-Glaser, PhD.
10. Stress Symptom: Bellyaches
Anxiety
and stress can cause stomachaches, along with headaches, backaches, and
insomnia. One study of 1,953 men and women found that those experiencing the
highest levels of stress were more than three times as likely to have abdominal
pain as their more-relaxed counterparts. The exact connection is still unclear,
but one theory holds that the intestines and the brain share nerve pathways;
when the mind reacts to stress, the intestines pick up the same signal. (Try
one of these 2-minute stress solutions). Because of this link, learning to
manage stress with the help of a clinical psychologist, meditation, or even
exercise can usually help relieve tummy trouble too. However, if you have
frequent bellyaches, see your doc to rule out food allergies, lactose
intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, or an ulcer.
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