Can Stress Cause Swollen Lymph Nodes?

Have you noticed the presence of swollen lymph nodes along your neck or armpits? These inflammatory responses can be a potential trigger for nervousness in some people. You may find yourself worrying about your overall health. However, swollen lymph nodes can occur for a variety of reasons. Although it can be the result of an immune response, this swelling doesn’t necessarily mean that you have something serious. Aside from infections, anxiety and physical stress may also lead to swollen lymph nodes in some cases. Of course, swollen nymph nodes are not all stress-related. 

Below, we’ll discuss what lymph nodes are, how they relate to immune cells, and the relationship between mental health and swollen lymph nodes.

What are lymph nodes?

Lymph nodes are small organs located throughout the body (with the exception of the central nervous system) and are part of the immune system. These inflammatory responses can play an important role in defending the body against illness and disease by filtering out harmful substances and supporting your overall immune system responses. According to the Cleveland Clinic, everyone has hundreds of lymph nodes throughout their body, but most lymph nodes that swell are in the neck, armpits, and groin. Lymph nodes often store white blood cells, or immune cells, which can fight off harmful bacteria to keep the body healthy and safe from many common illnesses. If lymph nodes feel swollen, it could be an immune response, or it could be related to mental or physical stress. 

Exploring the physiology: Lymph nodes and your immune response

When the body is subject to stress or infection, the lymph nodes can become larger than usual. Symptoms of swollen lymph nodes, bodily strain, or immunodeficiency may vary. For example, lymph nodes can become tender to the touch, or you may experience symptoms of fever, congestion, sore throat, headache, lightheadedness, fainting, high blood pressure, or malaise.

In most cases, lymph nodes can return to their normal size once the body has fought off the source of infection or disease. However, if you start feeling symptoms such as an accelerated or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, chest pain, or excessive fatigue, you might consider seeing a doctor for further assessment. You may also choose to see a doctor if you’re experiencing chronically swollen lymph nodes with no obvious physical cause or exposure.

Common Causes of Swollen Lymph Nodes 

If you’re concerned about swollen lymph nodes, it may be important to be aware of the most common reasons for swollen lymph nodes. These may include:

• An underlying infection, including viral infections
• Autoimmune diseases
• Certain medications
• Chronic inflammation
• Other health conditions
• Physical stress and anxiety

If swollen lymph nodes persist, it may be best to see a doctor or other health care provider. 

How Stress Affects the Body’s Immune and Lymphatic Systems: The Role of the Neuroendocrine and Central Nervous Systems  

Stress can be a threat to overall health, including the body’s central nervous system (e.g., spinal cord and brain health). The way that mental and physical stress impacts the body’s immune and lymphatic system may depend on whether the stress is acute or chronic. 

The central nervous and neuroendocrine system play an important role in how stress impacts the body. Acute stress can trigger the neuroendocrine system to release hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. In turn, this promotes the activity of immune cells, resulting in a boosted immune response in the short term. However, chronic stress can have the opposite effect, weakening the immune system, triggering inflammatory responses, and resulting in chronic inflammation. 

What is the scientific link between swollen lymph nodes and stress?

Stress and anxiety can sometimes lead lymph nodes to swell, but the connection isn’t fully understood. Not all stress impacts the immune system, and lymph nodes can swell for a number of other reasons, including an underlying infection. 

Stress, anxiety, and swollen lymph nodes

If you think you have swollen lymph nodes, you may benefit from speaking with a healthcare provider. Sometimes, people try to assess their own lymph nodes, but a healthcare provider has the training and experience to distinguish between a sensation of enlargement and truly swollen lymph nodes. If you do have swollen lymph nodes, a healthcare provider may order tests to try to determine the cause.  

If they don’t find a medical cause of swollen lymph nodes, you may be experiencing stress and anxiety, which can cause a variety of other symptoms. Physical symptoms that could be indicative of anxiety may include:

• Fatigue
• Lethargy
• Muscle tension
• Soreness
• Unexplained or persistent physical pain
• Gastrointestinal distress

Individuals experiencing anxiety and stress may feel both physically and mentally exhausted, even if they haven't performed any strenuous activities. This may be due to the taxing nature of anxiety.

Stress and anxiety can lead to a variety of mental and behavioral symptoms as well. Common behavioral symptoms can include changes in appetite and trouble sleeping or excessive sleep. Other symptoms may include:

• Irritability
• Excessive worrying
• Nervousness

How to treat stress and anxiety 

Stress impacts the entire body, right down to our immune cells. If you're experiencing episodes of chronic stress (i.e., emotional or physical stress) and manifestations of anxiety, there are a variety of evidence-based treatment options that may help you make positive changes. You might explore different options such as regular exercise and self-care to find a combination that works best for you, your mental health, and your emotional well-being. The following are just a few strategies you might try to foster stress-reduction and overall health.

Exercise

If you're feeling stressed out, you may try incorporating exercise into your daily routine—even if you haven’t done it regularly before. According to the Mayo Clinic, exercise leads to the release of endorphins, one of the body’s “feel good” neurotransmitters, which may boost your mood. Also, exercise may redirect or interrupt negative thought patterns caused by stress or anxiety.

Nutrition 

Other lifestyle changes that may help with stress, anxiety, and overall mental health may include eating a more healthful, well-rounded diet. Research suggests that nutritious foods may improve cognitive functioning, which may, in turn, lead to reduced stress. Aside from incorporating more nutritious foods into your diet, you may benefit from reducing your use of alcohol and other substances. Despite the temporary relaxation often brought about by alcohol, research shows that alcohol can actually increase anxiety for many people. 

Sleep

When you’re feeling high-stress levels, it may help to prioritize sleep more than you normally would. Research suggests that high-quality sleep can increase cognitive functioning during the day, which may lead to reduced stress if you’re able to be more productive. 

To improve your sleep, you may find it helpful to engage in rigorous exercise during the day. However, it may be best to avoid exercise within two hours of going to bed in order to prepare your body and mind for rest. Also, according to Harvard Medical School, it may help to reduce your use of screens before bed, as screens tend to emit blue light that can keep you awake at night.  

If you’re considering implementing some of these lifestyle changes for stress, you might consider starting small. This may help you to avoid becoming discouraged if you don’t meet all your goals. Also, if something isn’t working for you, you might try some other strategies to reduce stress and anxiety. You can also speak with a healthcare provider, who may recommend medication temporarily if needed.

Anxiety medication

If you're experiencing anxiety or stress-related symptoms, certain medications prescribed by a doctor may help to manage your symptoms. Everyone can react differently to different medications, so it may take a few tries to find an option that works best for you. It’s recommended that you not begin medication without speaking with a physician about your medical history and any other medications you take. Your doctor may begin by assessing your health via a thorough medical evaluation, checking for an underlying infection, including viral infections. Then, they can consider prescribing medication. A doctor may recommend therapy to help reduce your stress level or to address health anxiety. Keep in mind that in rare cases, anti-anxiety medications may lead to chronic inflammation. 

Stress-Related Health Anxiety and Physical Symptoms 

Not all stress causes an immune response. In some cases, physical stress or emotional stress can lead to health anxiety. This is a condition characterized by extreme concern about one’s overall health. It can cause a person to experience over-sensitization in the body, leading to more anxiety about possible health conditions. Health anxiety is sometimes stigmatized, and the people around the person experiencing it may think it’s “all in their head.” However, health anxiety is a real, treatable condition. 

Therapy for stress and anxiety

Whether you experience mild, moderate, or severe stress and anxiety, you may benefit from speaking with a licensed therapist. If stress makes it difficult to see a therapist in the office at this time, you might consider online therapy. With online therapy, you can discuss your symptoms of stress with a therapist from the comfort of home or anywhere with an internet connection. You can communicate with a therapist via phone, videoconferencing, or live chat at a time that works for your schedule.

Research shows that online therapy is effective for a variety of mental health challenges. One study published in 2017 found that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy was effective for generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder, among other conditions.