Physical signs and symptoms of stress Increased heart rate Pounding heart Elevated blood pressure Sweaty palms Tightness of the chest, neck, jaw, and back muscles Headache Diarrhoea Constipation Urinary hesitancy Trembling Twitching Stuttering and other speech difficulties Nausea Vomiting Sleep disturbances Fatigue Shallow breathing Dryness of the mouth or throat Susceptibility to minor illness Cold hands Itching Being easily startled Chronic pain