Chavon Feaster is stressed every day. Balancing work, school and family causes her to get little sleep, which causes even more stress.

Feaster, a junior English major, said she gets headaches when stressed.

“Aside from headaches, I don’t really think I get stress-related illnesses,” she said.

According to a National College Health Assessment survey, Feaster is not alone. Steve Lux, a health educator for Health Enhancement, said stress was reported as the No. 1 health impediment to academic success for college students.

Stress can have a major impact on both the physical and emotional self, depending on the kind of stress and how persistent and intense it is, Lux said.

“We tend to think of stress as a negative thing, but it’s really important and necessary for good functioning,” he said. “We need stress to help motivate us and to help us achieve.”

Excessive stress can cause anything from minor inconveniences to major health issues, Lux said. Though occasional stress will most likely not have a huge effect on the immune system, it can interfere and cause health problems – even debilitating illnesses and diseases if left unresolved. Long-term, high-intensity stress interferes with the immune system’s ability to keep the body healthy.

If early signs of stress are ignored, the body gives stronger ones, Lux said. A mild headache might turn into a migraine, or an upset stomach might turn into an ulcer.

“Stress can’t bring on [illness], but it kind of opens the body to being more receptive to an infection that we’re exposed to,” Lux said. “A well-functioning immune system can sometimes deal with [a virus] before it has a chance to really get a hold of you and cause symptoms.”

The key to addressing stress is to pay attention to the physical and non-physical cues from the body, he said. For example, when stressed, some people may experience symptoms affecting their stomachs or intestinal tracts; others have stress that affects their muscles, resulting in headaches or back pain.

Stress can also cause a constant state of anxiety, problems in relationships and problems in academics, said Jordana Segal, clinical psychology intern for Counseling Services.

“Years ago, I noticed that when I was in a stressful situation, I did a lot of jaw clenching,” Lux said. “That became a cue for me that I was dealing with a stressful situation.”

Keeping a list of activities to do when stressed is another way to reduce symptoms, Lux advised. Such activities may include practicing yoga or meditation, getting a massage, recreational reading, watching television or writing in a journal.

Stress can also be reduced through relaxation techniques, such as deep-breathing exercises, using imagery by imagining a peaceful situation, doing relaxing exercises, maintaining a healthy diet, healthy relationships and regularly exercising, Segal said.

Managing a daily routine and sleep routine will also help manage stress, said Sheryl Frye, a social worker for Counseling Services.

For more information on stress, call Counseling Services at 815-753-1206, or Health Enhancement at 815-753-9755.