Could emotional stress cause physical illness?

Stress & illness: Definitely. Emotional stress produces hundreds of changes in your body. If stress occurs too often or stays too long, those changes can push body systems beyond normal range and cause dysfunction. Chronic stress exhausts the body and decreases immune functions making you more vulnerable to many illnesses.

Stress: Anxiety / stress symptoms can include feeling nervous or irritable, muscle tension (especially in neck, shoulders & back), poor quality or minimal sleep, lack of concentration & easy fatiguability. Lump in throat or butterfly in stomach sensation can occur. It may exacerbate asthma, IBS or headaches.