Question

Can anxiety cause gastrointestinal problems?

Answer 1

Anxiety

1. Anxiety is a feeling of fear, dread, and uneasiness.
2. It might cause you to sweat, feel restless and tense, and have a rapid heartbeat.
3. During anxiety, gut motility is affected by the release of hormones and neurotransmitters.
4. In some people, stress slows down digestion, causing bloating, pain and constipation.
5. While in others it speeds it up, causing diarrhoea and frequent trips to the loo.
6. Some people lose their appetite completely.
7. Stress can also worsen digestive conditions like stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
8. Stress causes the delicate balance of bacteria in our gut affected ultimately leading to gastrointestinal discomfort.
9. Thus, anxiety causes gastrointestinal problems.