Physical Symptoms of PTSD

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, can develop after a traumatic event that threatens a person's safety or life and creates a feeling of unpredictable or uncontrollable helplessness. PTSD can affect the people who witness the event, those who help after the event, and in some cases the friends and family of people suffering from PTSD. Some triggers for PTSD are: War, natural disasters, car or plane crashes, violent assault, rape, sexual abuse, physical abuse or kidnapping. Although the psychological symptoms of PTSD are better known, certain physical symptoms, in combination with the psychological symptoms, are often present.

Vascular Symptoms

A study by Dr. Anja J. E. Dirkzwager of the Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research showed that PTSD can, in some cases, trigger vascular diseases like varicose veins and swelling. PTSD-related vascular disease is often triggered by high blood pressure, which may be a direct result of the traumatic event. People suffering from PTSD may be at a higher risk for developing heart disease due to elevated blood pressure and increases in stress hormone levels, according to studies reported in the "Journal of the American Medical Association." Those same studies have shown a distinct increase in risk for both non-fatal and fatal heart disease in people suffering from PTSD.

Increase in Overall Pain

PTSD can also cause a sensation of increased overall pain, according to a fact sheet released by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Although the mechanism is often not known, PTSD sufferers are sometimes diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and links between stress and fibromyalgia have been found. According to a study by nurse Lorna Morelli-Loftin, some people suffering from PTSD develop arthritis as a result of their PTSD. Although the overall mechanism isn't fully understood, it is thought that excessive stress hormones may trigger arthritis.

Lower Energy

People suffering from PTSD often describe lower energy levels. Although this is a physical symptom, it is likely caused by other physical and psychological symptoms of PTSD. According to the Hypoglycemic Health Association of Australia, PTSD can affect how the body uses insulin, resulting in lower blood glucose levels. Because glucose is the food used at the cellular level, lower glucose levels result in lower energy levels.

Digestive Problems

In some cases, people with PTSD describe a number of digestive problems, according to information from Wisconsin's Aurora Health Care. According to an article in the "Psychiatric Times," these problems can range from indigestion to more-serious eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulemia.

Headaches

People suffering from PTSD often report more-frequent and severe headaches. According to Britain's Royal College of Psychiatrists, some of the headaches have been shown to be a result of increased muscle tension in people who suffer from PTSD. Some people report high levels of dizziness with PTSD-related headaches.

Resources

• National Center for PTSC