illnesses that are related to stress
It can also exacerbate just about any health condition you can think of.. Studies have found many health problems related to stress. Stress seems to worsen or increase the risk of conditions like obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems, and asthma.
1 Pain of many kinds seems to be caused or made worse by stress. 2  Gastrointestinal (gas-tro-in-TES-ti-nal) problems, such as heart-burn, stomach pain, and diarrhea. 3  Insomnia, or difficulty sleeping. 4  Substance abuse, including smoking, drug addiction, and heavy drinking of alcohol.
Many people with an anxiety disorder also have a co-occurring disorder or physical illness, which can make their symptoms worse and recovery more difficult. Itâs essential to be treated for both disorders. Read on to learn more about the co-occurrence of anxiety and these disorders: 1  Eating disorders. 2  Headaches. 3  Hoarding disorder. 4  Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 5  Sleep disorders. 6  Substance use disorders. 7  Other related conditions.