Stress Health Channel

	Feature Article Illustrations for this article Click on an image below to enlarge Generalized anxiety disorder Stress and anxiety Definition Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or anxious. What is stressful to one person is not necessarily stressful to another. Anxiety is a feeling of apprehension or fear. The source of this uneasiness is not always known or recognized, which can add to the distress you feel. Alternative Names Anxiety; Feeling uptight; Stress; Tension; Jitters; Apprehension Considerations Stress is a normal part of life. In small quantities, stress is good -- it can motivate you and help you be more productive. However, too much stress, or a strong response to stress, is harmful. It can set you up for general poor health as well as specific physical or psychological illnesses like infection, heart disease, or depression. Persistent and unrelenting stress often leads to anxiety and unhealthy behaviors like overeating and abuse of alcohol or drugs. Emotional states like grief or depression and health conditions like an overactive thyroid, low blood sugar, or heart attack can also cause stress. Anxiety is often accompanied by physical symptoms, including: Twitching or trembling Muscle tension, headaches Sweating Dry mouth, difficulty swallowing Abdominal pain (may be the only symptom of stress, especially in a child) Sometimes other symptoms accompany anxiety: Dizziness Rapid or irregular heart rate Rapid breathing Diarrhea or frequent need to urinate Fatigue Irritability, including loss of your temper Sleeping difficulties and nightmares Decreased concentration Sexual problems Anxiety disorders are a group of psychiatric conditions that involve excessive anxiety. They include generalized anxiety disorder, specific phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and social phobia. Common Causes Certain drugs, both recreational and medicinal, can lead to symptoms of anxiety due to either side effects or withdrawal from the drug. Such drugs include caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cold remedies, decongestants, bronchodilators for asthma, tricyclic antidepressants, cocaine, amphetamines, diet pills, ADHD medications, and thyroid medications. A poor diet -- for example, low levels of vitamin B12 -- can also contribute to stress or anxiety. Continue reading this article

More Articles

Stress vs. anxiety (1 Image) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Anxiety vs. stress The following are common questions about stress and anxiety.Question:What is the difference between feeling stressed and having an anxiety disorder?Answer:Stress can come from any situation or thought that makes you feel frustra...Reviewer: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Pediatrics and Psychiatry, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 07/27/2007
Email  |  Save

Post-traumatic stress disorder (1 Image) Average Rating: (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Post-traumatic stress disorder is a type of anxiety disorder. It can occur after you've seen or experienced a traumatic event that involved the threat of injury or death. Reviewer: Timothy A. Rogge, MD, private practice in Psychiatry, Kirkland, WA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 05/21/2008
Email  |  Save

Stress management (1 Video, 3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. See also: Stress in childhood Reviewer: Christos Ballas, M.D., Attending Psychiatrist, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.Date: 02/06/2008
Email  |  Save

Exercise and stress reduction (4 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Stress reduction and exercise Question:Can exercise help reduce a person's stress level?Answer:Yes. Research has found that there are mental health benefits from exercise, including reduced stress and increased confidence for those who exercise re...Reviewer: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 01/18/2007
Email  |  Save

Stress in childhood (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Childhood stress can be caused by any situation that requires a person to adapt or change. The situation often produces anxiety. Stress may be caused by positive changes, such as starting a new activity, but it is most commonly linked with negative changes such as illness or death in the family. Reviewer: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 05/08/2008
Email  |  Save

Blood pressure (1 Video, 3 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Blood pressure is a measurement of the force applied to the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps blood through the body. The pressure is determined by the force and amount of blood pumped, and the size and flexibility of the arteries. Blood pressure is continually changing depending on activity, temperature, diet, emotional state, posture, physical state, and medication use. Reviewer: Linda Vorvick, MD, Seattle Site Coordinator, Lecturer, Pathophysiology, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. Date: 05/28/2008
Email  |  Save

Biofeedback (2 Images) (Doctor-Reviewed information)
Biofeedback is a technique that measures bodily functions in order to help control them. Reviewer: Steven D. Ehrlich, N.M.D., private practice specializing in complementary and alternative medicine, Phoenix, AZ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.Date: 11/07/2007
Email  |  Save

Use Healthline to search the web for more Stress information.

Health Experts, Healthline's Network of Health Experts

Teens and Stress. in Teen Health 411 - 2 years 82 days ago

Recognize heart beating fast, butterflies, tightness in chest, obsessive thoughts about being ready for things, inability to enjoy restful activities, etc ... Email  |  Save

Helping Stressed Students. in Teen Health 411 - 1 year 0 day ago

Parents can help by recognizing stress and helping students identify causes of the stress and listening and guiding while teens talk through the sources of... Email  |  Save

Collge Students and Stress. in Teen Health 411 - 242 days ago

Most adults develop strategies for coping with stress that include exercise, meditation, or regular activities with friends, which are healthy ways to cope... Email  |  Save