22 Unexpected Physical Symptoms Caused by Chronic Stress

21. Noticeable Changes in Body Odor

Body odour is never cool. Photo Credit: Envato @YuriArcursPeopleimages

This might be one of the more surprising and "beyond the obvious" symptoms: chronic stress can actually change your body odor. Stress activates apocrine glands (found mainly in armpits and anogenital areas), which produce a type of sweat rich in proteins and lipids. When this sweat is broken down by skin bacteria, it can result in a more pungent odor than sweat produced by eccrine glands (which are activated by heat). Heightened cortisol levels associated with chronic stress can contribute to this, subtly signaling your body's internal state to the outside world.

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