Question

Can I get stomach aches when stressed out?

Answer 1

Yes, you can get stomach aches when you are stressed out. Stress activates the fight or flight response, and this in turn shifts the body's resources from the non-essential systems for survival, such as the reproductive system and gastrointestinal system, to the systems needed for survival, such as the skeletal muscles and the cardiovascular system. This shift causes changes in the gastrointestinal system, which leads to symptoms such as stomach aches.