Stress, often considered a mental or emotional response, can have surprising and far-reaching effects on the entire body. 

While it's natural to associate stress with psychological strain, it's important to recognize its physical repercussions. 

In response to stress, our body undergoes changes in hormone and chemical secretions. Most of these secretions are produced by the adrenal gland, a small organ positioned atop the kidneys. 

The hormones released from this gland serve multiple functions, including initiating the "fight-or-flight" response, regulating metabolic processes such as blood sugar levels, managing the balance of salt and water, and facilitating pregnancy.

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While these hormones can be life-saving in moderation, their prolonged presence can lead to significant detrimental effects.

Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, primarily functions to inhibit processes that might obstruct the body's "fight-or-flight" response. To be more specific, it alters the way the immune system reacts and obstructs the proper functioning of the digestive, reproductive, and growth-related systems.

Stress is a complex foe that can have a negative impact on multiple parts of your health. It can trigger a spectrum of digestive issues, ranging from stomach discomfort and indigestion to conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). 

Stress can also interfere with your eating patterns, episodes of overeating or undereating, which can contribute to fluctuations in body weight.

Beyond its digestive implications, stress can manifest in your skin, exacerbating conditions such as acne, psoriasis and eczema. Additionally, it can trigger allergic reactions, often leading to discomforting skin issues like hives.

The impact of chronic stress extends even further, encompassing your cardiovascular health. It's associated with an elevated risk of heart disease, hypertension and atherosclerosis. Stress hormones, particularly cortisol, have the capacity to elevate blood pressure and promote inflammation within blood vessels.

For women, stress initiates a reduction in the production of estrogen and progesterone while elevating cortisol levels. This particular blend frequently leads to erratic and uncomfortable menstrual cycles and can have adverse effects on both emotional well-being and libido.

In the case of men, stress prompts a decline in testosterone levels and an upsurge in cortisol, which subsequently translates to feelings of fatigue and a notable decrease in sexual desire.

When it comes to lifestyle interventions, physical activity is a top recommendation. 

Exercise stands out as the most effective way to mitigate stress and lower cortisol levels.

Avoid responding to non-urgent emails and phone calls.

Consider taking breaks or practicing relaxation techniques to manage stress effectively. 

Adopting a balanced, nutritious diet and steering clear of smoking, alcohol consumption or recreational drug use are fundamental steps to reduce stress.

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Nonetheless, it's crucial to keep in mind that if you feel that stress is having a substantial impact on your health and overall quality of life, it's wise to seek guidance from a health care professional. 

Drawing on your medical history and unique situation, a health care expert can provide personalized advice and solutions.

Practicing stress management techniques such as meditation and exercise, and seeking support from professionals, can help reduce these surprising and often detrimental effects on the body.

For more Lifestyle articles, visit www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.

Magnets, chargers, lollipops and orange peels are just some of the surprising objects that people got stuck in their bodies in 2021, according to reports from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) database.

Foreign objects lodged in people’s bodies was the ninth leading cause of unintentional injuries that led to emergency room visits in 2021, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — with nearly 278,000 U.S. adults seeking care.

"Foreign objects being stuck in strange places is predictable at No. 9, when you consider that more than half are sex toys," Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center, told Fox News Digital about the data.

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"But there is also the factor of people absentmindedly poking themselves with objects, especially in the nose, ears and mouth," he said. 

"Serious injury can result."

Siegel said he once treated a 10-year-old patient who had a clogged nasal passage that was causing the child a lot of pain. 

"It took me a while to figure out that he had stuck a battery up there," he said.

"Luckily, it didn't leak," he added — "and we were able to get it out."

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In December 2022, a blogger on Defector listed some of the specific foreign objects found in the CPSC database, classified by orifice.

Some of the items that were lodged in people’s ears included a cufflink, wet tissues, a plastic sword, an insect, a rock, a lollipop, a charger, a piece of ice cream cone, a pushpin, a pencil eraser and a Battleship game piece.

Liquid items placed in the ear included shoe glue (added instead of ear drops), lighter fluid, candle wax and hydrogen peroxide.

Some of the foreign objects put into noses included gum wrappers, a used match, magnets, rice, candy hearts, yarn, jewels, gummy worms, orange peels, an LED light, flowers, cheese, popcorn kernels and glue.

The unintentional swallowing of items results in a high number of ER visits. 

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Some of the ingested foreign objects included a steak knife, a small flashlight, a glue stick, pet toys, coins, office supplies, cigarettes, aluminum foil, hair clips, keys and darts.

Men and women also visited the emergency room after inserting items into their genitalia. 

For men, some of the foreign objects included sex toys, beads, paper clips, coins, a car key, a pencil, a nail, a ceiling fan chain, a cell phone charger and a wooden spoon.

For women, some items included coins, a screw, a pen, a drumstick, a flashlight, a drinking cup, a golf ball, a nail polish bottle and even a spatula.

Some of the items that were placed in rectums included sex toys, spoons, magnets, bottles, crayons, wrenches, action figures, a vegetable peeler, candles, a fishing pole and an ice-cream cone.

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A July 2023 study published in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine found that nearly 4,000 people are hospitalized each year due to having foreign objects stuck in their rectums.

"Orifices are not made for foreign object intrusion unless it's a doctor doing it for investigative medical purposes," said Dr. Siegel.

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