Life today is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations, and demands which, for many people, are commonplace.  In small doses, stress is OK.  In large doses, stress has very harmful effects, i.e. heart disease, digestive problems, sleep problems, depression, obesity, autoimmune diseases, skin conditions, etc.

In reading a health article today I was surprised to find 4 symptoms that I would not have contributed to being a result of stress.

An Achy Mouth- A sore jaw may be a sign of teeth grinding, which can be worsened by stress.  If you find this to be a problem, talk to your dentist about a mouthguard – as much as 70% of people who use one reduce grinding or stop it altogether.

Painful Period Cramps- The most stressed women are more than twice as likely to get painful cramps as those who are less tense.  Researchers blame a stress-induced imbalance of hormones.  Exercise can soothe cramps and stress by decreasing sympathetic nervous system activity.

Weekend Headaches – A sudden drop in stress can prompt migraines, according to the Director of the Washington University Headache Center.  To help maintain your health and beauty, he says “stick closely to your weekday sleeping and eating schedule to minimize other triggers”.

Odd Dreams – Dreams usually get progressively more positive as you sleep, so you wake up happier than you were before bed.  When stressed, you wake up more often, disrupting this process and allowing unpleasant imagery all night.  Good sleep habits can help prevent this – try for 7-8 hours of sleep per night and avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime.

Related Articles:
Read What The American Heart Association Has to Say About Stress
Does Stress Affect Hormone Levels?