Does stress and worry lead to chronic joint pain?

When stress hits, our body kicks into “fight-or-flight” mode, boosting our heart rate, cranking up blood pressure, and making our muscles tense. This reaction, meant to keep us safe from danger, doesn’t always know when to chill, especially with the everyday pressures we face. Research suggests it could up the risk of autoimmune diseases. Think of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, causing not-so-fun symptoms like joint pain, stiffness, and swelling. But hey, it’s not all doom and gloom. Managing stress is like putting on armor against joint pain. You can do simple things like figuring out what triggers your stress, eating well to keep inflammation in check, leaning on friends or family for support, staying active with exercises like walking or yoga, and cutting back on alcohol and caffeine. It’s about finding that sweet spot between your mind and body, so they both can take a breather from the daily grind.