Yes, Too Much Stress Is Bad . . . But Is It Worse Than You Thought?

In certain situations, stress is a good thing. It helps us survive in dangerous situations. It helps us rise to meet challenges and perform at our best. But after the danger has passed or the challenge is met, what happens if powerful stress hormones don’t subside to normal levels? Untamed cortisol and other stress hormones wreak havoc on your body. You may develop migraines as well as painful muscle tension and spasms. Stress can cause you to pile on belly fat, increase your risk of heart disease and stroke, and make you more likely to develop dementia. And research also tells us that unbridled stress can be a trigger for autoimmune diseases. It can disrupt communication between the parts of your immune system that normally protect your body from disease and infection. And when your immune system malfunctions, it can result in inflammation and trigger such diverse diseases as lupus, Crohn’s disease, psoriasis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Could managing stress protect against these diseases? Read more…