Did you know which is the number 1 enemy of women’s health? Sure, stress. Undoubtedly, its excess is detrimental to the body in general for the simple reason that it exhausts us.

Faced with a feeling of latent threat and the effort we made trying to keep our guard always up, we ended up sapping our energies, and this had other consequences.

Below, we will tell you more why stress is the main enemy of women’s health.

Let us realise that stress is a natural process that allows us to react to the different circumstances present in our environment. Our survival instinct remains active; however, when stress continues over time, and its intensity exceeds normal limits, the body suffers.

Chronic stress can alter hormonal functions, which gives rise to a wide variety of problems for our health. Here are some of them.

Physiological problems

1. Low in estrogen levels causing menstrual irregularity, decreased libido and even total incapacity to conceive as well as atrophy in the genitals

2. Fatigue

3. Bruxism

4. Migraine

5. Increased hair loss

6. Stomach upset

7. Neck or back pain

8. Dermatological problems

9. Muscle aches from an excessive contraction.

10. Palpitations and heart problems (including the risk of having a stroke).

11. Low in defenses and therefore,

• Vitamin and mineral deficiency
  • An Impaired immune system
  • Increased chances of infection

Why does stress affect women’s health?

Today, women have many commitments, often exaggerating themselves and overburdening themselves more and more. Perhaps inadvertently, all of this may be affecting your health, even to an irreversible point.

A psychologist explains– that the stress to which the current woman is subjected, most of the time, becomes chronic.

Many women decide to embark on the adventure of making all their activities compatible, trying to have absolutely everything under control. Overexposure to stress ends up overwhelming the woman to such an extent that the number of consequences derived from it is shocking.

Among the main ravages in women’s health caused by hormonal alteration, they also have:

Psychological problems:

• Anguish
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Frustration
• Irritability
• Chronic fatigue

Hormonal changes caused by stress

In women, daily stress can cause significant hormonal changes. As expected, hormones are responsible for most of our functions. If normal hormone levels are altered, this can be immediately reflected in our health.

A stressed woman is not psychologically or physically capable of being a mother. So, a woman’s health is affected when she is stressed for a long time, and much more if she is pregnant.

When there is a high level of stress, the release of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) is altered. That is, instead of being released little by little, it is done continuously. In this way, the secretion of the hormones FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) and LH (luteinizing hormone) are inhibited, and, consequently, the entire menstrual cycle is altered.

Stress prevents having the mental capacity to conceive naturally. Additionally, the hormonal alteration caused by overload and continuous tension interferes in the menstrual cycle. You can see for yourself, the reason stress is the main enemy of women’s health.

Emotional health affects hormonal regularity because stimulation occurs at the brain level that leads to maturation of the eggs. Both follicle-stimulating hormone FSH and gonadotropin-releasing hormone GnRH are affected. These hormones are responsible for the maturation and release of eggs.

Other aspects are affected in this regard, for example, the decrease in appetite and sexual pleasure. However, not only is this aspect emotionally compromised, physically, there can be deterioration of the genitalia. Excess weight or weight loss can also deteriorate sexual health.

It is recommended that if you are suffering from too much stress, it is a good idea to seek specialist support who will be able to give you the tools to help you get out of that state of being. Remember that psychological support never hurts our lives.

Read also: Health benefits of deep breathing

Other ways to support yourself if stressed

• Connect with nature
• Go for a walk
• Exercise including dancing
• Healthy eating
• Listen to some music
• Read a book
• Talk to a friend or family member
• Take a hot bath/shower
• Rest
• Meditate
• Other deep breathing exercises like yoga
• Pray
• Painting/drawing
• Volunteer
• Stay in touch with loved ones

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