Infidelity is a breach of trust that can cause feelings of anger, disappointment, and betrayal.

While the emotional effects of infidelity are well-known, how exactly does it affect our physical health? Studies show that infidelity can lead to physical changes in our bodies that may negatively impact our health and well-being. Here are ten ways infidelity can affect your physical health.

Increases Stress Levels

Infidelity can cause stress levels to increase significantly, which can affect your physical health. When your body is under stress, it releases cortisol, a hormone that triggers the “fight or flight” response.

High cortisol levels over an extended period can lead to weight gain, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease.

Disrupts Sleep Patterns

Infidelity can disrupt sleep patterns, leading to insomnia or sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep can cause fatigue, a weakened immune system, and increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Sleep disruption can also lead to depression and anxiety, which further harms your physical health.

Increases Risk of STIs

Infidelity increases the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs) such as HIV, herpes, chlamydia, syphilis, and gonorrhea.

Not only can STIs cause physical discomfort, but they can lead to long-term health problems like infertility, cervical cancer, or liver disease.

Negative Impact on Heart Health

Studies show that the stress caused by infidelity can negatively affect heart health. High cortisol levels can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the heart, increasing the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.

Emotional stress can also cause heart arrhythmias, which are irregular heartbeats that can lead to blood clots, stroke, or heart failure.

Weight Changes

Infidelity can lead to weight changes, either loss or gain, depending on how the experience affects your eating habits. Emotional eating, stress eating, and a lack of appetite are common reactions to infidelity that can lead to weight gain or loss.

Significant weight changes can affect your health and lead to long-term health issues like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Psychosomatic Symptoms

Infidelity can cause several psychosomatic symptoms that have physical manifestations. These symptoms include chest pains, headaches, stomach aches, and body aches.

Psychosomatic symptoms add to the overall stress level of a person and can cause long-term physical damage to the body.

Mental Health Issues

Infidelity can cause depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues that can affect physical health. Depression can cause fatigue, insomnia, and weight changes, leading to long-term harm.

Anxiety can lead to heart palpitations, increased cortisol levels, and other physical symptoms that can harm your health.

Inability to Focus

Infidelity can cause significant distractions and make it challenging to focus on tasks, leading to workplace productivity issues, and other long-term health issues.

The inability to focus can cause chronic anxiety and stress, contributing to other physical health issues.

Long-Term Emotional Damage

Infidelity can cause long-term emotional damage that can affect physical health. The repeated exposure to infidelity can cause PTSD, which can lead to a weakened immune system, increased inflammation, and other health issues.