What are the Effects of Stress?

The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger, but stress can be negative when a person has  many challenges without relaxation between them. Stress that continues without relaxation can take you to a problem called distress which is a negative stress reaction. Distress causes headaches, stomach ache, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, and problems while sleeping. 

Stress can be harmful when people take alcohol, tobacco, or drugs to try to remove stress, and relax. Instead of removing stress and turn the body to a relaxed state, these substances keep your body in a stressed state and causes more problems.

Some interesting facts about stress:

• 43% of all adults suffer hard health effects from stress.
• 75% to 90% of all doctor's office visits are for stress-related problems.
• Stress can be cause of problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma, arthritis, depression, and anxiety.

For more information about stress and health:  http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/effects-of-stress-on-your-body