According to the W.H.O stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. Stress is a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives. Everyone experiences stress to some degree. When stress becomes chronic or excessive, it becomes harder to adapt and cope. Chronic stress builds up so that stress seems like a normal way of life for some women, essentially it becomes the norm. Oftentimes women are so busy that they do not take time to slow down long enough to think about how stress is negatively affecting them.

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How can I know I am going through stress? Signs Your Body is Calling for Help!!

There are many symptoms of stress. Each woman reacts to stress in unique ways. Common symptoms of stress in women include:

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• Physically - Headaches, difficulty sleeping, tiredness, pain (most commonly in the back and neck), overeating/under-eating, skin problems, drug and alcohol misuse, lack of energy, upset stomach, and less interest in sex.

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• Emotional - Anxiety, depression, anger, unhappiness, irritability, feelings of being out of control, mood swings, and frustration.

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• Mental - Forgetfulness, worry, indecisive, negative thinking, lack of focus, and boredom.

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• Occupational - Work overload, long hours, tense relations, poor concentration, and unfulfilling job.

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• Social - Less intimacy, isolation, family problems, and loneliness.

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• Spiritual - Apathy, loss of meaning, emptiness, unforgiving, doubt, guilt, and despair.

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Do any of these symptoms seem familiar to you?

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What Causes Some of the Stress Seen in Women?

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There are many causes of stress. Men and women share many of the same sources of stress, such as money matters, job security, health, and relationship issues. Perhaps a little more unique to women are the many roles they take on. In today’s society, women’s roles often include family obligations, caregiving for children and/or elderly parents (statistically more likely to be a woman) and work responsibilities as well as other roles. As demands increase to fulfill these roles, women can feel overwhelmed with time pressures and unmet obligations. They may feel a sense of failure in not being able to meet expectations for themselves and others. Oftentimes women spend more time meeting the needs of others rather than nurturing their own needs. If functioning at high stress levels, women may not even recognize what their needs are.

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How Stress Affects Women's Health

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During trying times, women may be less likely to prioritize their own mental and physical health. Research suggests that women may feel other effects of stress differently than men. Stress in women is linked to:

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• Heart Problems - High stress levels can raise blood pressure and heart rate, leading to serious medical problems, such as stroke and heart attack. The negative effects of stress may be greater for women younger than age 50 with a history of heart problems. Many women underestimate their risk, partly because symptoms can present differently than in men. Understanding the connection between stress and heart health is crucial for prevention and overall well-being.

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• Major Risk factor for Heart Disease -. Chronic stress increases the body's production of stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can elevate blood pressure, cause inflammation, and contribute to unhealthy behaviors like overeating, smoking, or lack of physical activity. Over time, these factors increase the risk of hypertension, stroke, and heart disease.

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For women, stress can be particularly harmful due to the demands of balancing work, family, and societal expectations. Studies show that women often internalize stress, making them more susceptible to stress-related heart conditions such as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (also known as "broken heart syndrome"), which mimics the symptoms of a heart attack.

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As mentioned earlier, women’s heart attack symptoms can varyt from men’s. Instead of the classic crushing chest pain, women may experience:

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• Shortness of breath

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•  Nausea or vomiting

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• Dizziness or lightheadedness

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• Unexplained fatigue

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• Discomfort in the back, jaw, or upper stomach

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The criteria for heart attack is mostly surrounded by men's symptoms and not necessarily women's, so it is important that women remain vigilant to these other symptoms which may be easily disregarded as stress or tiredness.

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Other effects of stress on the body include;

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• Headaches and Migraines -  Tension-type headaches are common in women and can be associated with other body aches and pains.

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• Stomach conditions - Short-term stress can cause diarrhea or vomiting. Long-term stress can cause irritable bowel syndrome, a condition twice as common in women than in men. Stress can also worsen gas and bloating.

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• Obesity - Women are more at risk for stress-related weight gain than men.

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• Difficulty Getting Pregnant - Higher stress levels increase the likelihood of having problems getting pregnant. Not being able to get pregnant is also a source of stress.

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• Menstrual Cycle Issues -  Chronic or long-term stress may lead to more severe premenstrual syndrome or irregular periods.

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Female Hormones and Heart Health: The Powerful Connection

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Female sex hormone; estrogen and progesterone have the most significant effect on a woman’s health, from menstruation to pregnancy to menopause and more, but a woman's body makes and utilizes a variety of other hormones which can affect other aspects of your health - from your energy level, weight, mood and more. Let's get into these hormones.

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1. Estrogen

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According to the Hormone Health Network, estrogen is responsible for the physical changes a woman undergoes during puberty. Aside from estrogen’s obvious importance to childbearing, it helps to keep cholesterol in control, contributes to protecting bone health and affects the brain (including mood), protects the heart, skin and other tissues throughout the body.

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The primary source of estrogen in women is the ovaries, which produce a woman’s eggs. However, the adrenal glands, which are located at the top of each kidney, also make small amounts of estrogen, along with fatty tissues. Estrogen moves throughout the body in the bloodstream and acts everywhere throughout the body. Estrogen levels change throughout the month, and are highest in the middle of your menstrual cycle and lowest during your period. At menopause, estrogen levels drop.

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Women with low estrogen, due to menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries may experience symptoms related to loss of protective effects on the heart and others like:

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• Irregular or absent menstrual period 

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• Hot flashes and/or night sweats

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• Difficulty falling or staying asleep

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• Dryness and thinning of the vagina

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• Decreased sexual desire

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• Mood swings

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• Dry skin

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Women with too much estrogen may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

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• Weight gain, particularly in the midsection (waist, hips and thighs)

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• Menstrual problems, such as light or heavy bleeding

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• Worsening of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

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• Fibrocystic breasts (non-cancerous breast lumps)

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• Uterine fibroids (non-cancerous tumors in the uterus)

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• Fatigue

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• Loss of sex drive

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• Feeling depressed or anxious

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2. Progesterone

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Another important female hormone is a steroid hormone secreted by the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine gland that women produce after ovulation, progesterone prepares the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) for the possibility of pregnancy after ovulation. 

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Women who have low levels of progesterone often have abnormal menstrual cycles or struggle to conceive. Women who suffer from low progesterone may experience abnormal bleeding, irregular or missed periods, spotting and abdominal pain during pregnancy and frequent miscarriages. However, low progesterone levels can also create higher estrogen levels, which may contribute to the following symptoms:

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• Decreased sex drive

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• Additional weight gain

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• Gallbladder problems

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3. Testosterone

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As the primary sex hormone found in men, testosterone plays an important role in a woman’s body as well. Relatively small amounts of testosterone are produced in the ovaries and adrenal glands and released into the bloodstream, where it contributes to a woman’s sex drive, bone density and muscle strength. Women who produce too much testosterone may experience:

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• Irregular or absent menstrual periods

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• More body hair than the average woman

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• Male-pattern or frontal balding

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• Acne

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• Increased muscle mass

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• Deeper voice

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Women with high levels of testosterone may struggle with infertility and commonly suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). 

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4. Thyroid Hormone

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The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland that sits low in the front of the neck, secretes several hormones. If the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH), one may have a condition called hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid. Women, especially those over the age of 60, are more likely to have hypothyroidism, which upsets the normal balance of chemical reactions in the body. While it seldom causes symptoms in the early stages, untreated hypothyroidism can cause a number of health problems, such as obesity, joint pain, infertility and heart disease. Some symptoms include; 

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• Fatigue

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• Increased sensitivity to cold

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• Constipation

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• Dry skin

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• Weight gain

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• Puffy face

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• Elevated blood cholesterol levels e.t.c

We understand how tempting and easy it can be for women to blame their hormones for not feeling great although they may be 100% correct but analysing stress that one maybe going through could answer a lot of health questions and clear a lot of doubt. Stress, hormones and heart health is one continuous cycle in a woman's life, it is sometimes hard to understand which comes first or which triggers the other but at the end of the day we must understand that paying close attention to stress levels, hormonal balance and changes as well as physical and mental health status would really have a positive impact in a woman's life.

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Reclaiming Your Well-Being: Managing stress

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Empowering women to prioritize their mental health and removing barriers to their care is essential. Women should reach out to a health care professional if stress has become too much to handle alone. Coping with stress by smoking or overeating are unhealthy ways to deal with stress.

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Healthy daily habits such as exercising, eating healthy and balanced meals, recharging, meditating, connecting with loved ones and finding a community can improve how the body manages stress. 

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Women can only prioritize their heart health after understanding the impact of stress and hormones on their cardiovascular system. By making lifestyle adjustments and recognizing warning signs early, women can take charge of their well-being and reduce their risk of heart disease. Remember, taking care of your heart is an act of self-care and empowerment.

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