Stress can happen to anyone at any time. While we cannot control what happens to us, we can take control of how we react, especially when it can hurt our health.

Our AFC Urgent Care East Meadow team wants you to know how stress can affect your health as well as ways you can manage stress effectively.

How Can Stress Affect Your Health?

Stress can cause more than just a bad mood. When you're experiencing stress, you may find yourself dealing with a variety of physical and mental symptoms.

And when you deal with stress over time, you put yourself at a higher risk of developing many medical conditions. But what exactly causes stress?

Common Causes of Stress

• Death of a loved one
• Divorce
• Losing a job
• Getting married
• Experiencing an illness or injury
• Emotional problems like anxiety and depression
• Finances

What Are the Symptoms of Stress?

As mentioned above, the symptoms of stress can show up both physically and mentally. Physical symptoms of stress include having hardly any energy, headaches, an upset stomach, chest pain and/or nausea.

When stress affects your mental health, it can come in the form of depression, anxiety, moodiness, anger, loneliness and/or isolation. But you can take steps to better manage stress and protect your health.

Ways to Better Manage Stress

• Keep a positive attitude.
• Control what you can.
• Exercise regularly.
• Eat a balanced diet.
• Meditate.
• Practice stress management techniques like yoga.

Is it stress or something else? Visit AFC Urgent Care East Meadow today for a medical evaluation. We are open seven days a week!