Acute stress is a part of life, but when it turns into chronic stress, it can cause serious health concerns both mentally and physically.
Acute stress is the stress you feel as the direct result of a specific situation or event. For instance, it’s acute stress when you’re running late for an appointment and begin to feel symptoms of stress such as anxiety and difficulty focusing.
Chronic stress is the result of stress that builds up from repeated exposure to stressful situations and the hormones your body releases during each stressful episode. Many things can lead to chronic stress, including factors such as difficult relationships, job demands, and financial concerns.
Acute and chronic stress share some overlapping symptoms. However, the symptoms of chronic stress are longer-lasting and can be harder to manage.
Symptoms of acute stress include:
Symptoms of chronic stress include:
Over time, chronic stress can lead to additional complications. These include:
Stress is a reaction that happens when something activates your body’s fight-or-flight response. It gets your heart racing and puts you on high alert. A wide range of things can cause acute stress.
Generally, acute stress is a reaction to situations that are challenging to manage but that are temporary, such as:
- car accidents
- medical emergencies
- work deadlines
- unexpected expenses
- upcoming events
- traffic
- weather
- travel
On the other hand, chronic stress is a reaction to long-term stressors. These long-term stressors keep your body on high alert for an extended time. Examples of situations that can lead to chronic stress include:
Treatment options for stress depend on the severity and how the stress is affecting your life. Acute stress doesn’t typically need treatment unless it’s making daily activities difficult.
If you’re experiencing episodes of acute stress frequently, your primary healthcare professional might recommend lifestyle treatments such as:
- Increasing your physical activity: Exercise and an active…
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