Can stress cause fever?

Psychogenic fevers or fever resulting from psychological causes rather than physical ones like infection or other inflammatory conditions can occur. Young women tend to experience this particular symptom of stress more than other demographic groups, although anyone can experience it. The fever caused by stress may be a quick and temporary spike in temperature or a long-lasting lower grade fever.

Stress is a normal reaction to changes or stressors in the environment, and everyone experiences it from time to time. The stress response is beneficial and healthy in the body. The ability to respond to stress appropriately is governed by our body’s fight or flight response. Its sole purpose is to help us face challenges that may arise.

For some, if stressors don’t resolve or stress isn’t managed, the stress can become chronic and lead to other health issues. The hormones generated by the fight or flight response and the physical processes they trigger, like a spike in blood pressure, can contribute to health risks when they are present in the body too frequently. High blood pressure and other cardiovascular health risks may result from unmanaged stress, along with other health complications. Chronic stress is thought to contribute to a vast array of health issues.

Some symptoms of stress include:

• Aches and pains
• High blood pressure
• Digestive issues
• Dizziness or shaking
• Weakened immune system
• Racing heartbeat
• Chest pain
• Anger
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Panic or panic attacks

Managing stress is important to support overall health and wellness. Some ways to manage stress include:

• Getting plenty of sleep each day
• Spending time engaged in activities and hobbies that you enjoy
• Getting regular exercise and making sure to do so when stressful times may lie ahead
• Learning and using stress prevention tools like mindfulness, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation, and meditation
• Creating a social support system that you can call on in tough times
• Working with a counselor to help process and manage stress, develop coping skills suited to you, and provide you with a safe place to vent about stressors and other issues

If you’re experiencing stress that you’re struggling to manage, talk with your trusted medical provider or a licensed mental health professional to create a plan for managing stress and the potential health risks that may arise from it.