The health of the mind and body are connected. Many people consider the two areas as separate entities, but in many cases, they coexist. Your mental health can affect other areas of your body, just like how your physical health can also impact your mental health. Consider this; maybe you have had a surgery that leaves you bedridden or unable to participate in some of your passions. A situation like this could cause your mental health to take a toll. The opposite circumstance could be anxiety triggering sleep or other health problems.

No matter the circumstance, we can’t ignore that mental health can have physical impacts on our bodies. A great way to mitigate poor physical health is by managing your mental health. If you are feeling any thoughts of self-harm, please contact a medical professional immediately. The same goes if you are feeling any symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. You are not struggling alone, and the professionals here at Carreras Medical center can help you pinpoint your symptoms and give you the quality attention and care you deserve.

Stress and Physical Effects

At some point in our lives, we have likely experienced stress. It is one of the most common mental health tolls that people can recognize in themselves at very young ages. Think hard, to the first time you felt stressed. Maybe it was in grammar school during a big test or class presentation. Perhaps you felt stressed at a sports tryout or big game. Oftentimes, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves, leading to stress, which can start from a very young age.

Depressed Mature Woman Lying in Bed With Bottle of Pills Top View

Can Stress Cause Fever

Having chronic or extreme stress can take a physical toll on your body. Are you wondering, “can stress cause fever?” If you are, you are unfortunately correct. Stress can cause a fever, making our bodies work even more overtime. Our body is signaling us to relax. The proper term is psychogenic fever. Sometimes, during an especially triggering emotional event, people will experience their body temperature spiking. Stress can cause fever spikes as high as 106 degrees Fahrenheit.  

Interestingly, females experience psychogenic fever more than males. In addition, those who experience chronic stress can have a persistent low fever of around a hundred degrees. Scientists have still not determined why stress can cause fevers still. However, we know that when some people experience anxiety, their brain signals their body to increase its temperature.

Can Stress Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes

If you have ever googled, “Can stress cause swollen lymph nodes,” you are not alone. While it may not be familiar, stress can certainly cause swollen lymph nodes. First, these small organs are located throughout the body. They are apart of our immune system and shield our bodies against disease. 

Secondly, some white blood cells live in our lymph nodes to filtrate illnesses, so disease doesn’t make us sick. When our body fights off an illness, our lymph nodes are one of the first organs to get working. You have likely experienced swollen lymph nodes, maybe around your throat, when sick. They can be tender to the touch and feel more swollen than usual.

There is a link between can stress cause swollen lymph nodes and mental illness. Swelling lymph nodes can occur when we face stress triggers and is a physical symptom of mental illness. For example, our body works so hard to feel good that our brain can release signals telling the body it feels ill. Our physical response frequently makes it more difficult to cope. Stress can cause our immune system to become weaker, making our lymph nodes work harder than typical, sometimes causing soreness.

Depression and Physical Effects

Depression can have physical impacts on our bodies. There are ways how depression affects the brain, and it can cause memory loss. More than a quarter of adults suffer from mental health disease. When the disorder is left untreated, we can experience a decreased immune system, low sex drive, increased sensitivity to pain, and other problems. Of course, these symptoms or adverse reactions occur case by case. Many people have different or similar depression and physical effects.

How Depression Affects The Brain

What if we told you that depression could change the way we feel, act, and behave? How depression affects the brain is not as known as the illness itself. People with symptoms should contact a healthcare professional right away for help, so they don’t bear the physical effects as well. 

Did you know that studies reveal certain parts of the brain actually shrink in response to depression? The affected can lose brain tissue and cells, known as GMV, in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for high-level thoughts and planning. While the hippocampus is essential for learning new things and maintaining memory retention. In addition, you may then wonder, “can depression cause memory loss.” It is true you could suffer from problems related to your memory. 

Anxiety and Physical Effects

Anxiety is a feeling often derived from stress or worry. It can be identified when you are overanalyzing something that has happened or is going to happen. Anxiety is typically focused on the ‘what if’ in the past or future. People with anxiety can have a difficult time staying present. Anxiety can cause forms of chest pain, high blood pressure, and nausea. 

Can Anxiety Cause High Blood Pressure

Senior Elderly Lady Receiving Bad News About Her Blood Pressure From Her Doctor or a Nurse

While anxiety can cause high blood pressure in bouts, it won’t cause long-term elevated levels. Episodes of the disorder can cause short-term spikes in high blood pressure. Although, if you are suffering from frequent anxiety episodes, your blood vessels, heart, and kidneys could be at risk the same as people suffering from chronic hypertension. 

Can Anxiety Cause Chest Pain

Chest pain can be experienced during anxiety episodes, like panic attacks. While having an attack, it may be difficult to catch your breath or stop panicking- only to overwhelm someone more. One of the best ways to calm yourself during an attack is recognizing you are having one and talking yourself down. It is crucial to determine if your chest pain is that of anxiety or other problems.

Can Anxiety Cause Nausea

Anxiety can most certainly cause nausea. Think back to a big moment where you felt nervous. Maybe it was a class presentation, a big game, test, or interview. Was there a pit in your stomach? Did you have butterflies? Imagine that feeling on almost a daily basis. Experiencing anxiety can make you feel sick to your stomach.

To conclude, if you are having trouble managing your anxiety, depression, or stress and it affects your day-to-day life, reach out to a healthcare professional for help. There is help available, and you should not have to suffer. At Carreras Medical Center, we offer comprehensive care and empower our patients to acknowledge what they are going through. Call us today and schedule an appointment.