Medical Conditions That Can Cause Stress

Anyone diagnosed with a serious or chronic health condition knows the initial fright or 
shock when they first hear the news. Any diagnosis, whether it’s high blood pressure, 
diabetes, heart disease or cancer is life-changing and stressful. There is no way to list 
every stressful illness. Some illnesses are stressful because they are often 
misdiagnosed or misunderstood. Here are four examples of stressful medical conditions 
of this type.

Dysautonomia

A diagnosis of Dysautonomia means the patient has a dysfunctional autonomic nervous 
system. The autonomic nervous system controls the heart rate, blood pressure, 
temperature regulation, vision and digestion. The most prevalent symptoms of 
dysautonomia are dizziness or fainting, Periods of high or low heart rate and unstable 
blood pressure.

Prior to diagnosis, patients are often told their symptoms are simply anxiety. Some are 
informed there is nothing wrong because all test results are normal. Even with a 
diagnosis, some doctors are not well-versed.

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain condition, thought to be caused by over-active pain 
receptors in the brain. It is characterized by widespread body pain and debilitating 
fatigue. 

The diagnosis of fibromyalgia is a diagnosis of exclusion. It can take several years of 
new doctors, and a battery of test before a determination is made. Although 
fibromyalgia is recognized as a disability, some doctors still don’t “believe” in 
fibromyalgia, or mistakenly view it as a psychological disorder.
This condition is stressful because the patient's pain is often dismissed. Some doctors 
no longer treat fibromyalgia patients due to the restrictions in prescribing pain 
medication. 

Multiple Sclerosis

MS is a potentially disabling disease of the central nervous system. The immune system 
attacks the protective myelin sheath that covers nerve fibers. Often the disease will 
affect vision, speech or motor functions. This condition can cause people to develop 
symptoms during a relapse that may resolve either partially or completely, only to have 
new symptoms appear later. There are several forms of MS. Some people will face a 
steady progression of symptoms without remission.

Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome

Ehlers-Danlos (EDS) is a group of hereditary disorders that affect collagen production. 
Because of the collagen defect, those with Ehlers-Danlos have abnormally loose, 
flexible joints that are prone to dislocation. This disorder can also cause loose, highly 
elastic skin and fragile blood vessels. 
There is no cure for EDS, but treatment can manage symptoms and prevent additional 
complications. A physical therapist may recommend bracing to keep joints from 
dislocating.

Every medical condition comes with its own list of concerns and stressful 
considerations. Often patients experience stress when there is a discrepancy between 
what others assume they should do and what their conditions will allow. Education is the 
key to understanding.

