Which of the following are recognised as common physical signs and symptoms of stress in the human body?

Introduction / Context:
Stress is not just an emotional or mental state; it also produces clear physical changes in the body. When a person is under prolonged or intense stress, the body's stress response system is activated, releasing hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones prepare the body for "fight or flight" but, if activated too often, can lead to physical symptoms. Recognising these signs helps people identify when stress is affecting their health so they can take steps to manage it. This question asks which listed physical symptoms can be associated with stress.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options mention tense muscles, aches, and loss of sexual desire.
• Physical signs of stress involve muscles, pain perception, sleep, appetite, and sexual function.
• We assume everyday chronic or acute stress, not rare medical disorders.
• The question specifically focuses on physical, not purely emotional, signs.

Concept / Approach:
When the nervous system repeatedly activates the stress response, muscles can stay in a partially contracted state, leading to tension in the neck, shoulders, or back. This can cause tension headaches and general body aches. Stress can also affect hormone levels and blood flow, influencing sexual desire and performance. All these symptoms are well-recognised physical manifestations of stress rather than purely psychological ones. Because each of the listed options (tense muscles, aches, loss of sexual desire) is a known physical sign, the correct choice is that all of them together can be caused or worsened by stress.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Consider how stress affects muscle tone: chronic stress often leads to tightness and stiffness, especially in the neck, shoulders, and jaw. Step 2: Recognise that persistent muscle tension can cause physical aches and pains, including headaches or back pain. Step 3: Understand that stress hormones can interfere with normal sexual hormone balance and blood flow, reducing sexual desire or causing sexual dysfunction. Step 4: Compare each option with this understanding and see that all three listed symptoms can be linked to stress. Step 5: Conclude that the best answer is that all of the listed physical changes may be signs of stress.

Verification / Alternative check:
Health education materials, psychological counselling guides, and medical references often list physical symptoms of stress such as muscle tension, headaches, gastrointestinal upsets, changes in appetite, fatigue, and changes in sexual desire. Stress management programmes frequently ask people to notice where they "hold tension" in their bodies and whether they have ongoing aches and pains. Relationship counsellors also note that stress at work or in daily life can reduce sexual interest and affect intimacy. These consistent observations confirm that each of the individual options is a real physical sign of stress, supporting the "all of the above" answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Tense or tight muscles alone is a real sign of stress, but selecting only this option ignores the other equally valid signs listed in the question.
Frequent aches and pains, such as headaches or back pain, are also stress-related, but they are not the only physical signs mentioned.
Loss of sexual desire or changes in sexual function can be caused by stress, but again, it is not the only correct physical sign in the options.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes separate physical and emotional reactions too strictly, thinking that stress only affects mood and not the body. Others may believe that loss of sexual desire is only due to hormonal or relationship issues and forget that stress hormones and fatigue play a big role. A useful approach is to remember that the body and mind are connected; chronic stress often "speaks" through the body. Whenever you see several well-known physical complaints listed together in a stress-related question, it is reasonable to consider that all of them may be linked to stress.

Final Answer:
The physical signs of stress in this question are All of the above physical changes can be signs of stress.