The 8 signs ‘silent’ stress is making you sick – from a splitting headache to a dodgy tummy

BRITS are more stressed than ever – with three in four of us feeling overwhelmed or unable to cope. And the effects of stress can seriously impact our bodies, increasing the body’s inflammatory reactions – causing a whole host of unpleasant health issues. Credit: Alamy With millions of days lost every year to stress, scientists also found last year that happy people generally have healthier hearts – and shockingly, the risk of heart attacks and strokes soar by over half if you are stressed. While some symptoms may be obvious, others linked to stress may surprise you. Here, we look at the eight "silent" signs stress is making you sick – and what to do to fix it. 1. Your weight starts to fluctuate Stress often makes you take up unhealthy behaviours such as overeating or undereating. Doctor Shanna Levine said: "Stress triggers the release of the hormone cortisol, which impairs your body’s ability to process blood sugar and changes the way you metabolise fat, protein, and carbs, which can lead to weight gain or loss." Experts suggest snacking on nuts if you notice this happening – as they’re packed with magnesium which seems to help keep cortisol levels low. On top of this, the fibre will fill you up if you’ve been gorging on food and the protein will help if you’re under-eating. Broccoli is also a great thing to add to your diet as it’s high in folic acid, which aids stress reduction. 2. You keep getting headaches If you’ve never suffered from headaches but suddenly your head is constantly throbbing, you may be overly stressed. Stress releases chemicals that can cause changes to nerves and blood vessels in the brain, which brings on a headache. It can also trigger migraines or make them worse as it’s […]

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