Can Stress Make You Sick? Fever, Blood Pressure And More

Most people are affected by stress at some point in their lives. In fact, 2022 data from Ipsos found that at least 52% of Americans reported feeling so stressed that they felt they could not cope or deal at least once in the past year. But what happens when stress is experienced over a long period of time, and what effect does it have on a person’s health?

Find out more about stress, including the differences between acute and chronic stress, the symptoms you might experience, the illnesses and health concerns associated with stress, as well as tips for managing it in daily life.

Stress is the body’s response to stressors, which could be external or internal. An external stressor could be a challenging event or situation, while an internal stressor might be a negative thought or worry.

“Stress can be positive when it helps you complete a task or react to a life-threatening situation,” says Matthew Pierson, M.D., a psychiatrist and the medical director for ERC Pathlight in Maryland. “Or it can be negative, [like] when it leads you to overreact emotionally or make poor choices.”