10 Ways High Stress Levels Could Affect Your Body

We all know that stress bothers us, but did you know that it can also wreak havoc on our bodies?

Say hello to cortisol, the hormone released when stress arises, triggering that familiar “fight, flight, or freeze” response. Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol also helps regulate blood sugar, blood pressure and immune function.

But while cortisol is helpful in short periods of time, too much of it can create a host of physical problems. Fitness guru Liz Tenuto (@theworkoutwitch) recently took to TikTok to reveal 10 surprisingly specific signs that your cortisol levels might be through the roof, all thanks to stress.

Eye twitches

Generally harmless, eye twitching is often the first physical sign that stress is taking its toll.

Because the muscles around our eyes are small and weak, they are the “first responders” to high cortisol levels. When cortisol increases, it acts as a stimulant (think caffeine), causing muscles to contract or spasm involuntarily.

Bloating

Remember the “moon face”? TikTok took by storm last year, with beauty influencers warning that facial puffiness could be a sign of high cortisol levels.

Although cortisol has its benefits, too much cortisol can disrupt the body’s salt and water balance, leading to fluid retention and bloating.

In rare cases, facial swelling can also be a sign of Cushing’s syndrome, when the body produces too much cortisol.

But it doesn’t just affect your face: High cortisol levels can also reduce blood flow to the digestive system, disrupting gut function and gut bacteria. The result? Poor digestion, excess gas and more bloating.

Random bruises

If you notice unexplained bruising, it could be a sign that your cortisol levels are too high.

High levels of cortisol can weaken the structural proteins in the skin, making it thinner and more fragile.

Too much cortisol also weakens the walls of small blood vessels, making them more prone to damage and bleeding, even from minor trauma.

Hair loss

Chronic stress can also affect your hairline.

Research has shown that high cortisol levels can cause hair loss by forcing follicular stem cells to enter a prolonged resting phase, preventing new hair growth.

Additionally, when the adrenal glands focus on producing extra cortisol, they produce fewer hormones that support healthy hair growth, like testosterone and estrogen. This hormonal imbalance can contribute to thinning hair.

Vision deterioration

High levels of cortisol can put your vision at risk.

When cortisol increases, it can disrupt blood flow from the eye to the brain, leading to potential vision problems. High cortisol levels can also increase pressure in the eye, which over time increases the risk of developing glaucoma, a serious condition that can threaten vision.

That’s not all. Hormonal changes caused by high cortisol levels are also linked to dry eyes, blurred vision, and increased sensitivity to light.

Brain fog

Do you have trouble concentrating? High cortisol levels could be the cause.

Chronic stress causes cortisol levels to skyrocket, which can interfere with regions of the brain responsible for memory, concentration and decision-making. As a result, you may have more difficulty concentrating, remembering information, or thinking clearly.

But it doesn’t stop there. Elevated cortisol can also disrupt the balance of other key neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin, further impairing cognitive function and leaving you mentally confused and overwhelmed.

Tinnitus

That ringing in your ears may not only be annoying: it could also mean your stress levels are too high.

High cortisol levels can disrupt the hearing system, impacting blood flow, nerve function and inflammation, all of which can contribute to tinnitus, which is when you hear sounds like ringing , a buzzing or hissing sound without any external source.

The tricky part? Tinnitus can increase stress and anxiety, creating a vicious cycle. The more stressed you feel, the worse the ringing gets, which in turn increases your stress levels and causes cortisol levels to rise even further.

Extreme temperatures

Have you ever experienced sudden hot flashes followed by a chill? High cortisol levels could be the cause.

When cortisol levels rise, they can disrupt the way the brain responds to estrogen, triggering hot flashes, even if your estrogen levels are perfectly normal. While hot flashes are usually linked to hormonal imbalances, stress-induced changes in cortisol can mimic the same effect.

But it doesn’t stop there. Fluctuations in cortisol can also cause cold flashes when your body shifts blood flow toward vital organs and away from less critical areas like the skin and stomach, triggering that cold feeling.

Unexplained chest pain

If you’re experiencing chest pain, stress could be contributing to it.

High levels of cortisol can raise blood pressure, narrow the arteries and disrupt the heart rhythm, increasing the risk of chest discomfort.

On top of that, anxiety or panic attacks, both triggered by high cortisol levels, can cause chest pain that feels eerily similar to a heart attack.

Exhaustion at 3 p.m.

Hit a wall in the middle of the afternoon? Maybe it’s not just your schedule, but also your cortisol rhythm that’s bothering you.

Cortisol naturally peaks in the morning to help you wake up and stay alert, then declines in the evening to signal that it’s time to relax. Constant stress completely disrupts this natural rhythm.

As a result, your adrenal glands can become overworked as they try to maintain adequate cortisol production. That means your cortisol levels could spike at the wrong times — or drop when you need energy the most — leaving you sluggish, mentally foggy, and struggling to get through the rest of the day.