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According to the American Psychological Association, about three in four adults in the United States have experienced ill-health effects due to stress in the past month.
“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, along with changes in appetite, are all common symptoms of stress,” said Daren Wu, M.D., chief medical officer at Open Door Family Medical Center, which seeks to provide affordable, quality health care services in Westchester and Putnam counties.
“If you’re experiencing these symptoms, it’s important to see a health care provider and be open to making beneficial lifestyle changes,” he added. “This might include getting regular exercise, improving your sleep habits, eating a healthier diet and building stronger social connections.”
While the stress of everyday life – including work, relationships, housing issues, caregiving responsibilities and financial concerns – can affect your health, strong stress management skills can help you navigate the difficulties and thrive.
Recently, Wu answered questions about stress’ relationship to health and how we can address its challenges:
Dr. Wu, thank you for your time. What specific disorders are you seeing that are stress-related, and are you seeing more of these 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 deregulates 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’re 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 (for example, divorce, death, sickness of a loved one, loss of a job) and illness?
“Absolutely, and many people recall certain life events or experiences that preceded an illness. Autoimmune conditions, dramatic weight increase (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 nonmedication 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 treating 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.
“I see the power of addressing stress daily at Open Door. I recall Ramona, 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 Ramona from helping. She had all the physical symptoms and lab markers for rheumatoid arthritis and needed specialist care. But once her daughter safely joined her in this country, her symptoms disappeared completely within months. She no longer needed any medications.
“Ramona’s s story illustrates a crucial truth: 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 well-being, the better equipped we become to handle life, and it’s inevitable challenges while protecting our health.”
