Never in the history of time, has there been so many people affected by stress on a daily basis. With the ongoing pressure to perform at work, answer to the demands of friends and family members, and meet one's own expectations regarding daily goals such as exercise, cleaning and getting errands completed, the stress often builds up to a point where specific physical manifestations appear.

Unfortunately, most people allow them to get to a point where their health is threatened to a severe degree and this often is due to an unwillingness to see the reality of the body breaking down until it is often too late.

Below are some of the most common symptoms of stress:

Brain Malfunction

A high level of stress leads to the inability to concentrate and increased forgetfulness. Willpower is often lost, leading to the propensity to indulge in bad habits like drinking, smoking, or eating too much.

Stomach Problems

One of the first things that happens when the body undergoes the stress response is that blood is diverted away from your digestive tract to your large muscles. Stomach and intestines may empty their contents, preparing the body for quick action. Many people experiencing stress, anxiety, and nervousness also experience stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.

In fact, long term episodic or chronic stress has been linked to a number of digestive maladies, from irritable bowel syndrome and colitis to ulcers and chronic diarrhea.

Heart Trouble

Stress can contribute to hypertension (high blood pressure) and any type of heart disease. It can do this in indirect ways by contributing to bad habits that in turn can contribute health problems. For example, a high fat, high sugar, low fiber diet contributes to fat in the blood and, eventually, a clogged, heart-attack-prone heart.

Skin Reactions

Acne is often exacerbated by stress. This is also the same for women during a particular time of their menstrual cycle. Long term stress can even lead to chronic acne, psoriasis, hives, and other forms of dermatitis.

Chronic Pain

Stress often leads to an impaired immune system and increased sensitivity to pain. Migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, degenerative bone and joint diseases, and old injuries all feel worse when the body is under stress.

Mental Stress

Mental Stress comes in several forms. Social stressors include pressure from work, an impending important event, and relationship problems. Any major change in life can result in mental stress, depending on how the mind interprets the event.

Mental stress can result in low self-esteem, a negative outlook on life, cynicism, or the desire for isolation, as the ind attempts to justify and, in any way possible, stop the stress.

If stress is experienced for a long time, one could suffer from burnout, losing all interest in their job and the lack of control increases. One could begin to experience panic attacks, severe depression, or even a nervous breakdown, which is a temporary state of mental illness that could occur suddenly or slowly over a long period of time.

Note: It is clear from this information, that stress is definitely something to be taken seriously. Be aware of the possibilities due to the effects of stress and take action - you may end up adding years to your life or simply improving the quality of your life and the life of a loved one!