Recognize Stress Symptoms
with James Rossiter, M.D.
"In terms of the usual holiday stress, use the common-sense advice you've probably been told before. Plan ahead and make a reasonable to-do list. Figure out where you want to be, who you want to visit and don't try to please everybody…Focus on what has meaning to you." - James Rossiter, M.D., with Columbia St. Mary's
Two main causes of most stress symptoms are disrupted sleep patterns and chronic muscle tension. The health effects of stress can affect any part of the body and weaken the immune system.
Dr. James Rossiter, an otolaryngologist (ear/nose/throat specialist) with Columbia St. Mary's estimates that 80 to 90 percent of his patients are seen for symptoms related to stress. "It is the number one common denominator of most of the problems I deal with," he said.
Ear, nose and throat problems are caused by stress? The connection seems tenuous, but many of the doctor's patients are taking medications for stress or anxiety. "I think the incidence of stress is increasing," he said.
Dr. Rossiter cited muscle tension as one of the main complaints. "Muscle tension in my practice affects the jaw, shoulder and neck. This leads to headache or TMJ syndrome (temporomandibular joint syndrome) caused by the grinding of the teeth or tension in the muscles that open and close the jaw," he said.
He added that stress has a direct effect on increased ear, sinus and throat problems as well as voice problems. "A lot of patients complain of feeling that something is stuck in their throat. This is caused by so much tightness around their voice box that they feel like their breathing is being shut off. Or they can't swallow because the muscle tension has constricted their whole upper body area. I have to tell them that stress is causing ninety-nine percent of their symptoms," he said.
Stress also causes gastrointestinal symptoms, such as dry mouth, thick phlegm, gastritis, ulcers, diarrhea, constipation or, in Dr. Rossiter's area of expertise, laryngopharyngeal acid reflux.
Read about symptoms and treatment of acid reflux, commonly known as GERD.
Stress and Insomnia, a vicious cycle
Most of the health issues caused by long-term stress seem to begin with a vicious cycle. Your stressful day leads to a protective release of stress hormones which, in turn, causes muscle tension, increased heart rate and blood pressure, stomach clenching and difficulty sleeping.
You start the following day, feeling tired and cranky but you nonetheless have to crawl out of bed and off to the job. Lack of sleep causes concentration problems, maybe a mistake or two. Concern about performance leads to more hormones being released.
Fatigued, you look forward to some extra sleep, but unfortunately, the effect of the day's anxiety makes sleep even more difficult. You wake the next morning more fatigued, less ready to face the world. But face it you do and so the cycle continues.
Eventually, you begin feeling overwhelmed. You have problems with concentration lapses and short-term memory. You no longer function at your optimum level.
"When you're young, you can recover from lack of sleep," Dr. Rossiter said. "When you're older, your body won't let you abuse it."
He added that stress causes elevated cholesterol, affects the function of the thyroid gland and interferes with calcium metabolism (affecting bone density). "It also compromises the immune system, which makes people more susceptible to bacterial and fungal infections as well as the flu, the common cold, allergies and even cancer. Eventually, your body works at such a high pace that it just wears out."
Combating stress
There is a real physiological link between how you feel emotionally and the state of your overall health. Read how positive outlooks and realistic attitudes can go a long way toward making you feel better.
Physicians, who have gone through the grueling hours of internship and residency, understand the effects of stress on sleep patterns all too well. Read Dr. Rossiter's tips on getting a good night's sleep.
