Chronic stress can look 'completely normal' for years: Dr Jay Jagannathan explains hidden effects on your brain and body

Chronic stress can appear 'completely normal' for years while silently affecting the brain and body, according to neurosurgeon Dr Jay Jagannathan.

Prolonged stress keeps the sympathetic nervous system and HPA axis activated, with increased cortisol and catecholamines.

Hidden effects include disrupted attention, memory, sleep, pain perception, muscle tone, heart rate, and emotional reactivity.

Common symptoms like poor sleep, headaches, irritability, and difficulty concentrating are often misattributed to other causes but may stem from chronic stress.