When the natural stress response becomes overactive

The body's stress response system usually helps you handle tough situations. It turns itself on and off as needed. Once a perceived threat has passed, hormones return to typical levels. As adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, your heart rate and blood pressure return to typical levels. Other systems go back to their regular activities.

But when stressors are always present and you always feel stressed, that fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on. This may happen when you are dealing with chronic stress or worrying about the future.

When the stress response system is active for too long, it can give you too much exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones. That can disrupt almost all the body's processes. This puts you at higher risk of many health conditions.

Mental health effects include:

• Anxiety. Frequent worry can cause many of the same health issues as stress.
• Depression. Long-term stress can lead to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
• Issues with memory and focus. High levels of the stress hormone cortisol can make it hard to focus and remember things. This can make it harder to think.

Short-term physical health effects include:

• Digestive problems. Stomach pain and bloating are two ways stress may affect your gut. You also may get heartburn or acid reflux.
• Muscle tension and pain. Stress causes muscles to get tense. When stress is long-term, your muscles tend to always be tight. Tight muscles can cause other issues, including neck and back pain.
• Headaches. Muscle tightness can lead to headaches. A headache may be a physical sign telling you that you're stressed.
• Sleep difficulties. Racing thoughts and anxiety can affect how much and how well you sleep.

Long-term physical health effects include:

• Shortness of breath and rapid breathing. This can worsen conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• Weight gain. When you're stressed, you may not eat as well or get enough regular physical activity. Stress also can change the way your body functions in ways that can lead to weight gain.
• Sexual issues. You may have a lower sexual interest. Stress also can affect the ability to conceive. Stress also can worsen symptoms of menstruation and menopause.
• Heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke. Over time, chronic stress can raise the heart rate and lead to issues with the blood vessels. These issues can lead to conditions such as heart disease and stroke.

Because stress can affect your health in so many ways, it's important to learn healthy ways to cope with things that bring you stress.