There are numbers physical effects of stress. stress can affect the heart. It increase the pulse rate, make the heart miss beats, and cause high blood pressure. Stress can affect the respiratory system. It can lead to asthma. It can cause a person a person to breathe too fast, resulting in a loss of important dioxide. Stress can affect the stomach. It can cause stomach aches and problems digesting food. These are only a few examples of the wide range of symptoms resulting form stress.