Doctor's Notes on Stress
Stress can be caused by any type of physical, mental, or emotional strain or situation. Common causes of stress include social difficulties, financial problems, physical or mental illness, lack of social support networks, family problems, and a family history of stress.
Symptoms of stress may initially include anxiety, nervousness, being easily distracted, excessive worry, feeling internal pressure, and changes in sleep patterns. This can cause a person to seem self-absorbed, irritable, or angry.
When stress levels are high or chronic, more severe symptoms, including physical symptoms, may occur including fatigue, depression, thoughts of hurting yourself or others, headaches, nausea or vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain or pressure, heart racing, dizziness, flushing, restlessness, shortness of breath, hyperventilation, or choking sensation. Most people can recover from stress symptoms when the stressor is removed or managed.
What Is the Treatment for Stress?
If stress is worsening symptoms of an underlying condition, treatment is directed at managing that condition. Effects of stress may be treated with lifestyle alterations, dietary changes, or, in some cases, medications. Examples of treatments can include:
- Lifestyle measures to promote relaxation, including interventions such as breathing exercises, meditation, regular exercise, biofeedback, acupuncture, and others
- Dietary changes to promote good nutrition
- Avoiding alcohol and caffeine, which may worsen symptoms
- Smoking cessation
- Practicing good sleep hygiene
- Psychotherapy or counseling
- Medications, in certain cases, to provide short-term relief of anxiety or to promote better sleep
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Chest Pain
Chest pain has a variety of noncardiac and cardiac causes, some of which can be very serious. Signs and symptoms of chest pain may include burning, squeezing, or heaviness in the chest. Atherosclerosis, angina, lung tumors, chest trauma, abdominal pain, and gastric reflux are just a few potential causes of chest pain. Chest pain is diagnosed by taking the patient history and performing a physical exam. Blood work, imaging tests, and an exercise stress test may be ordered. The treatment and prognosis of chest pain depends on the underlying cause. -
Choking
Choking is a blockage of the upper airway by food or other objects, preventing a person from breathing effectively. Choking can cause a simple coughing fit or complete blockage of the windpipe resulting in death. -
Diarrhea
Diarrhea can be caused by bacterial or viral infections, parasites, intestinal diseases or conditions, reactions to medications, and food intolerance or allergies. Symptoms of diarrhea include watery stools, abdominal cramping, fever, and dehydration. Most cases of diarrhea can be treated at home. In some cases (in the elderly, small children, or those with severe or chronic medical conditions) may need to be hospitalized due to dehydration. -
Diet and Nutrition
Nutrition and diet is needed for health. Read dietary guidelines, dietary reference intakes, food guide pyramid, calories, carbohydrates, protein, fats, vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals. A healthy variety of food provides nutrients for health and weight management and weight loss. -
Dizziness
Dizziness may be a minor problem, or could be something life-threatening. Causes of dizziness include high blood pressure, low blood pressure, heart problems, conditions of the brain, medications, metabolic conditions, aging, other illnesses or conditions, or psychiatric conditions. Treatment depends upon the cause of the dizziness. -
Exercise
Exercise has been shown to reduce one's risk of heart disease, diabetes, colon and breast cancer, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and reduce depression and anxiety. The Surgeon General recommends accumulating 30 minutes of exercise on a daily basis. -
High Cholesterol
High cholesterol levels can lead to heart disease, stroke, angina, blood clot formation, stroke, and peripheral artery disease. Causes of high cholesterol include heredity, age, gender, stress, and lifestyle choices. Cholesterol levels can be reduced with lifestyle changes and medication if necessary (statins, fibrates, bile acid sequestrants, or niacin). -
Hyperventilation
Hyperventilation syndrome is a condition where a person hyperventilates for an unknown cause. Symptoms of hyperventilation syndrome include bloating, burping, passing gas, abdominal pressure, anxiety, weakness, fainting, dizziness, confusion, and agitation. A person with hyperventilation syndrome should seek medical care to assure it is not a serious medical condition. -
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic GI disorder of unknown cause. The most common symptoms of IBS include bloating, gas, abdominal pain and cramping, and constipation and diarrhea. New antibody blood tests may help identify some types of irritable bowel syndrome, for example, IBS-D (irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea) and IBS-M (irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea and constipation). IBS treatment is accomplished with OTC and prescription medication, diet, and lifestyle changes. -
Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Drugs (Side Effects)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be thought of as an inflammatory process involving different areas of the central nervous system (CNS) at various points in time. Examples of medications for treating MS include corticosteroids, for example, methylprednisolone (Solu-Medrol); immuno-dilating drugs (interferons and glatiramer acetate (Capaxone); immunosuppressants, for example, Mitoxantrone (Novantrone), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), azathioprine (Imuran), or methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall); optional therapies, for example, fingolimod (Gilenya); and investigational drugs. -
Palpitations
Heart palpitations are an abnormality of the normal heart beat and rhythm, and are a symptom of another disease or problem. Causes of heart palpitations include heart disease or other heart problems (mitral valve prolapse, atrial fibrillation), during pregnancy, perimenopause, menopause, postmenopause, anxiety, emotional stress, stimulants (caffeine, alcohol, drugs), and some over-the-counter and prescription medications. Other symptoms that may accompany heart palpitations include nausea, vomiting, sweating, shortness of breath, and angina (heart pain). Some types of heart palpitations can be fatal, for example, ventricular fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia. -
Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Post-traumatic stress disorder, also known as PTSD, is among only a few mental disorders that are triggered by a disturbing outside event, quite unlike other psychiatric disorders such as depression. PTSD symptoms include re-experiencing the event, avoiding anything that reminds you of the event, negative changes in thinking and mood, and changes in arousal or reactivity. PTSD treatment can include medication and therapy. -
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) occurs during the first two weeks before a woman begins her menstrual cycle. Symptoms of PMS include: mood changes, behavioral changes, changes in physical functions; like headache, palpitations, bloating, breast tenderness, constipation, weight gain, fatigue, and diarrhea. Treatment for PMS include lifestyle changes and OTC or prescription medication. -
Tension Headache
Headaches are among the most common complaints worldwide. Though headaches are common symptoms of many diseases, tension-type headaches have specific characteristics, such as a tightening feeling on both sides of the head; sensitivity to light or sound; and other hallmarks. Treatment typically includes nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs). -
Tinnitus (Ringing, Clicking, in the Ears)
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is a cause for hearing loss. Tinnitus also can be caused by ear infections, exposure to loud noises, Meniere's disease, medications, brain tumors, TMJ, and other medical conditions. Treatment for tinnitus depends upon the cause. -
What Are the Common Signs of Stress?
Stress is the body’s reaction to physical, mental, or emotional pressures. It affects each person differently, and some people may experience physical and emotional symptoms as reactions to stressors. Irritability, anxiety, worry and loss of a sense of humor can all be signs of stress. -
Yoga
Yoga is the systematic practice of physical exercise, breath control, relaxation, diet control, and positive thinking and meditation aimed at developing harmony in the body, mind, and environment. Yoga produces a union of body, mind, and energy to elicit calmness. Benefits of yoga include: improved flexibility, stress relief, and inner peace.
REFERENCE:
Kasper, D.L., et al., eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 19th Ed. United States: McGraw-Hill Education, 2015.