How Financial Stress Affects Your Stomach

If you are experiencing financial stress, you may find that you are experiencing an increase in stomach problems. Our bodies have a way of dealing with stress that is closely tied to the workings of our digestive system so that any stress you might be under in your life can manifest itself through unpleasant digestive symptoms. Understanding the connection between your financial stress and your digestive problems is the first step toward finding your way back to health.

The Stress Response

Our bodies have a built-in response system for dealing with perceived threats in our environment. The problem is that this system was designed for dealing with sudden, life-or-death threats and doesn’t work quite as well in dealing with the ongoing stressors we experience in the modern world. Whether you are dealing with unemployment, facing foreclosure, drowning in debt, or just worried about paying your bills, your body reacts to this stress as if you were facing a ferocious tiger. This reaction affects many of our bodies' major systems, including our immune system, respiratory system, muscles and digestive systems.

Specifically, stress affects our digestive systems in two ways:

• Delays stomach emptying
• Increases the speed of intestinal contractions

Common Stress-Exacerbated Digestive Symptoms

When people are worried about their finances, they may find themselves dealing with:

• indigestion
• heartburn
• increased intestinal gas
• diarrhea

Should You See a Doctor?

Anytime you experience a sudden and pronounced change of symptoms, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor just to be on the safe side. An appointment is essential if you experience any of the following red-flag digestive symptoms:

• rectal bleeding
• anemia (low red blood cell count)
• significant weight loss
• prolonged vomiting
• prolonged fever

Essential Reading:

• What to Do for Financial Stress

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• What Do You Do for Financial Stress?

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• Is the Economy Going to your Gut?

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_Source:

Monnikes, H., et.al. “Role of stress in functional gastrointestinal disorders. Evidence for stress-induced alterations in gastrointestinal motility and sensitivity.” Digestive Diseases 2001 19:201-211.