Episodic acute stress is a type of stress that occurs when a person experiences acute stress frequently. It is often seen in people who make unrealistic or unreasonable demands of themselves, causing them stress in attempting to achieve their goals. This type of stress can also occur when a person is impacted by consecutive stressors or often worried about a negative experience or event that could happen in the future. People who identify themselves as naturally anxious, irritable, or short-tempered may be more prone to episodic acute stress, as they may interpret even minor stressors as being the source of major stress. The symptoms of episodic acute stress include feeling irritable and angry, increased heart rate, panic attacks, heartburn and indigestion, muscle pain and tightness, heart disease, high blood pressure, and frequent headaches. The persistent and cyclical pattern of episodic stress can have a disturbing impact on the mind and body, leading to serious impacts on mental and physical health.