Will stress cause a fever?

Psychogenic fevers are fevers that occur due to psychological factors rather than infection or other inflammatory causes. Stress and other strong emotional reactions can result in a spike in body temperature, or chronic stress may result in a constant lower grade fever. Research indicates that most people affected by this phenomenon are young women.

Chronic or unmanaged stress can result in a vast array of physical symptoms, which can include:

• Body aches and pains
• High blood pressure
• Headache, shaking, and dizziness
• Difficulty sleeping and feeling exhausted
• Muscle tension
• Digestive issues
• Sexual function problems
• Weakened immune system
• Chest pain or racing heartbeat

The mental symptoms of stress include:

• Anxiety
• Anger
• Depression
• Panic attacks
• Sadness

While stress is a completely normal reaction that everyone experiences from time to time, in some cases, stress may become chronic or difficult to manage. The stress response is a beneficial physical response that enables humans to respond to dangerous situations. The body’s autonomic nervous system responds to stress with the fight or flight response, which increases the heart rate, breathing, and more. These changes are meant to help the body respond to stressful situations. If that response frequently occurs because stressors don’t change or the stress response isn’t offset, problems can occur.

Stress management is an invaluable tool. Each person may be relaxed or calmed by different things, but generally, stress can be managed by:

• Regular exercise, especially when there is a stressful time or change ahead
• Spending time in activities you enjoy
• Using prevention techniques like meditation, mindfulness, yoga, and progressive muscle relaxation
• Eating well
• Getting adequate sleep
• Forming and maintaining a supportive social system to help you with difficult or stressful times
• Working with a therapist who can help you process stress, develop coping skills, and provide you with a confidential outlet to “vent” in

If you’re feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, or have thoughts of hopelessness or suicide, contact your doctor for help with stress immediately, or reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. If you’re using substances like alcohol or drugs to manage your feelings of stress, talk with your doctor or a licensed mental health professional for an evaluation of your stress and to create a plan to get your stress under control.