A Silent Struggle: 5 Ways Stress Affects Men

 It may or may not come as a surprise that nearly half of Americans report frequent stress — and the issue does not discriminate between genders.

While some stress is normal and part of life, the numbers surrounding stress have been steadily increasing over the past two decades and show no signs of letting up.

Since June is Men’s Health Month in the United States, board-certified psychologist Dr. Trey Cole and our team here at Quandary Peak Counseling want to devote this blog to the effects that stress can have on men. 

Our goal in presenting these potential side effects of stress is to underscore the importance of seeking our help through our stress management services. Let’s dive in.

Erectile dysfunction

One way in which stress can have a strong impact on men is through erectile dysfunction (ED), which affects up to 30 million American men. 

There’s a lot that goes into an erection, and it starts in the brain with arousal — so, if stress hijacks your brain, arousal might not come so easily.

From there, stress can have other impacts, such as suppressing your hormonal health and leading to muscle tension that might interfere with your ability to achieve and maintain an erection.

Infertility

When it comes to infertility issues, the male side of the equation is a contributor about half the time.

While there are many reasons men might have fertility issues, stress is a common one. That’s because chronic stress can affect your testosterone and sperm production, as well as the quality of your sperm.

Cardiovascular disease

When your body is in a constant fight-or-flight mode, your heart rate and blood pressure rise. Over time, this can lead to high blood pressure, which places you at risk for more serious cardiovascular disease.

Sleep issues

This connection is a fairly obvious one — stress can very much affect your ability to get good restorative rest. Men (and women) function best with at least eight hours of sleep each night. But a recent poll found that only 48% of men feel they’re getting enough sleep, which leaves more than half of men falling short.

This lack of sleep can be directly due to stress that prevents sleep, and it can also add to stress, making it a vicious cycle of stress and sleep issues.

Gastrointestinal (GI) issues

Stomach upset, heartburn, ulcers, constipation, diarrhea — these are all GI issues that are very much connected to stress. When you’re stressed, the acid levels in your stomach can increase, digestion can slow, and inflammation can arise, all of which can wreak havoc on your digestive system.

While we’ve outlined some physical issues that occur in men who deal with chronic stress, the problem can also lead to anxiety disorders and depression, especially if you let the stress go unchecked.

A better path forward for your physical and mental health is to deal with stress through excellent management techniques that can bring you some peace and calm. 

To get that ball rolling, please call our office in Denver, Colorado, at 720-675-7918, or request an appointment online today to learn more about our stress management services.