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Not exercising -

Stress can reduce your energy levels, leaving you feeling depleted and without any motivation to exercise.

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Weight gain -

Metabolic syndrome is also known as central obesity. The risk of developing this is much higher in people who experience stress.

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Tension headaches -

Stress is the number one cause of tension headaches. While these headaches are mild to moderate, they can still be very unpleasant.

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Heart attack or stroke -

Stress can cause fluctuations and elevations in your blood pressure, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

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Sleep problems -

Feeling stressed can interfere with your ability to sleep properly at night. The problem is also exacerbated by worrying about it.

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Stomach problems -

Stress can lead to problems with acid reflux and heartburn. This may, in turn, lead to more serious issues, like stomach ulcers.

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Diabetes risk -

The more stress-related eating that you partake in, the more likely you are to increase your blood sugar levels, which can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

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Intimacy -

Your desires can be seriously impaired by stress. Because you are not relaxed, it will be very difficult to get in the mood.

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Seizures -

The most common trigger for those who have epilepsy and consequently experience seizures is stress.

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Shingles -

Illnesses such as shingles can be brought on by chronic stress, as it can be a serious hit to your immune system.

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Addiction -

The more stressed you are, the more likely you are to indulge in addictive behaviors, such as smoking or excessive drinking.

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Dementia -

There is a far greater likelihood of developing dementia in later life if you have been highly prone to stress in mid-life.

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Hair -

Stress can have a huge effect on your hair. It can both slow down its growth and also be a contributing factor in hair loss.

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Depression -

High levels of stress can be a major factor in exacerbating levels of depression and anxiety, and can cause panic disorder.

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Erectile dysfunction -

The ability to get and maintain an erection is both physical and psychological. Stress can be a major contributing factor to ED.

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Pain -

Stress can even interfere with levels of pain. It can exaggerate the stimulus levels in the body, and exacerbate feelings of pain.

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Excessive restroom trips -

When stressed, the body is in a state of nervousness. Therefore, increased restroom trips can be a consequence.

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Prone to illness -

Increased levels of stress can have a detrimental effect on your level of white blood cells, which are crucial in fighting illness.

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Hot flashes -

Chronic stress can increase sweating in general, and this is even more apparent when it comes to women going through menopause.

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A lump in the throat -

People who experience stress can feel a lump in their throats. Nothing is there, but stress sometimes causes the throat muscles to constrict, which creates the sensation.

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Cancer -

Stress has an effect on the body, right down to a cellular level. Therefore, stress can cause malignant tumors to enlarge.

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Tinnitus -

Often, tinnitus is caused by exposure to very loud music. However, it can also be caused and exacerbated by stress.

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Genetics -

Stress can even change your genetic code. Confusing as this sounds, it works by activating genes and disturbing cellular growth.

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Shrinking of the brain -

This may sound more science fiction than science fact but, unfortunately, it's true. Chronic stress can decrease both the weight and volume of the brain.

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Conception -

Feeling stressed can make the process of trying to conceive more difficult. It can affect both men and women's fertility.

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Shaking hands -

Your body cannot distinguish between threat caused by real danger and the adverse effects of stress. Therefore, it can make your hands shake.

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Bad food choices -

A lack of serotonin can make you crave junk food. This is temporarily relieved after eating, but it doesn't last.

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Disability -

Stress is constantly putting both your mind and body under strain. Therefore, it can make you more susceptible to disability.

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Premature death -

High or even moderate levels of stress can increase your chances of dying prematurely by up to 50%.

See also: The best way to relax and relieve stress according to your star sign

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