A major side effect that stress can cause on the gastrointestinal system is __________.

August 22, 2025 Add Comment
Gastrointestinal System
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Fill-in-the-Blank Question:

A major side effect that stress can cause on the gastrointestinal system is __________.

  1. constipation. 
  1. stomach ulcers. 
  1. overeating. 
  1. weight loss. 

Answer: 2. stomach ulcers.

Stress produces negative energy that can kill you mentally and physically over time. Long-term stress constantly keeps your digestive system in a fight mode. It can cause all the above-mentioned health issues in your digestive system as well as lead to various other issues, including heartburn, nausea, indigestion, and irritable bowel syndrome. But, when it comes to the major side-effect, the correct answer is: stomach ulcers.  

Even though study suggests that there is no direct link between stress and stomach ulcers, stress can contribute to the increase in gastrin levels in your digestive system. With an increased gastrin level, your stomach releases more acid. Over time, this may affect your stomach lining and aggravate the condition of stomach ulcers. 

How Does Stress Affect Your Gastrointestinal System? 

Stress can lead to several health issues on your gastrointestinal system, such as 

Heartburn:  

During stressful situation, you may experience a burning feeling in your chest. Stress opens up the channel between your stomach and esophagus. As a result, stomach acid may move to esophagus. 

Indigestion:  

When you eat under stress, it may affect your digestion system and cause nausea, gas, diarrhea, and bloating. In stress, we tend eat too-fast or too-much that affect our digestion process.   

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): 

Stress may influence and worsen an intestinal disorder called IBS or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Some common symptoms of IBS are gas, cramping, bloating, and constipation or diarrhea.  

Damage in Gut Motility: 

Any person suffering from stress for a long time may experience either constipation or diarrhea. This happens due to the change in gut motility. 

Increased Gut Sensitivity: 

When you are in stress, you may feel stomach pain or bloating more intensely as stress increases your gut sensitivity. 

Stomach Ulcers: 

Interestingly, stomach ulcers are not directly caused by stress. Stress causes so many damages to the digestion system that they can lead to ulcer formation. Also, stress worsens the condition of the ulcer. 

Here’s a table that represents the common side effects and how stress impact the digestion system- 

Effect Stress Impact 
Heartburn Slows digestion, acid reflux 
Indigestion Eating fast or under stress 
IBS Triggers flare-ups 
Gut Motility Too fast or too slow contractions 
Gut Sensitivity Heightened response to pain 
Ulcers Worsens acid irritation 

How to Protect Your Gastrointestinal System from Stress? 

Stress may not be avoidable, but it can surely be managed. And, if you can manage your stress effectively, you can protect your digestive system.  

Here are two effective ways to manage stress and safeguard your stomach- 

  • Exercise: Exercise is an efficient method to reduce stress levels. You should exercise regularly not only to manage your stress and recover bowel function but also for a better overall well-being. 
  • Yoga and Meditation: Yoga and meditation help you learn useful breathing techniques to reduce stress levels.  

These are the two best ways for managing stress and overall well-being. When you physical well and fit, you will have the positive energy to handle stress.