Ordering a takeaway for some people is a routine while others find it to be an absolute nightmare.

For those in the latter camp, there is some research which could back up those feelings after all.

New research has found the stress of ordering a takeaway to cause both physiological and psychological effects – takeaway trauma.

A University of Wolverhampton study, in partnership with Chicago Town, found the average heart rate to increase from baseline 70 BPM to 87 BPM.

That was when participants were ordering a pizza, showing an increase of 17 BPM.

Meanwhile, ‘tense arousal’ scores – stress levels – saw an increase with the length of time people were waiting for a pizza, from 17.25 to 18.38 BPM.

Dr Martin Khechra, senior lecturer in biomedical science at the University of Wolverhampton, said: “We’ve all seen friends, partners and, if we’re honest, even ourselves get antsy and annoyed during the process of ordering a takeaway.

“However, it is a surprise to see that the experience has a real impact on stress levels and our heart rate.”

In the study, participants were ordering and waiting for a takeaway pizza while their heart rates were being monitored to measure their pulse fluctuations and monitor stress levels.

This was done using the UMACL – UNWIST Mood Adjective checklist, looking at measures tense arousal scores.

Analysis was looked at in four stages – fidgety, anxious, irate, and lost.

People were usually found entering the first stage about five minutes in, with people beginning to finger-tap, toe-tap, or check the takeaway’s app for the arrival time.

By ten minutes in, anxiety began to emerge while refreshing the app while the pizza still has not arrived.

Symptoms begin to worsen around 40 minutes in – stress levels increase, poor communication, and lateness of deliveries can get people to breaking point.

Meanwhile the last stage is lost, which is 50 minutes in, when the participants received the wrong order or the quality of the food was lower than expected.

Darren Stanton, who analysed the results, said: “People order a takeaway as a treat – a way to reward themselves after a long week at work and to enjoy a relaxing night in with loved ones.

“This study shows that it can be the opposite of this. However, with the four stages we’ve identified as fidgety, anxious, irate and lost, it’s easy to recognise the symptoms of Takeaway Trauma, so we can help others suffering from the condition.”