Newswise — Stress often gets a bad rap. It's true that sustained stress is harmful to your health. It can contribute to insomnia, depression, anxiety, obesity, heart disease, depression and other problems.
But that's only half the story, according to the April issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. Momentary (acute) stress may actually boost your immune system, promote longevity and help you meet life's challenges.
And life without any stress would be, well, boring. Manageable levels of stress make a challenging task exciting and increase your potential productivity and success.
Since stress itself isn't necessarily good or bad, the positive or negative effects of stress depend on the amount of stress you are able to tolerate.
One way to prevent stress overload is to choose positive and meaningful activities over those that saddle you with an unnecessary emotional load. For unavoidable stressors, such as trauma or loss, you can learn constructive ways to deal with them by focusing on those factors you can control. This may include taking care of yourself through diet and exercise, maintaining a positive approach and seeking help when you need it.
The above article is from the April issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource attribution is required. Also, you may reprint up to four articles annually without cost. More frequent reprinting is allowed for a fee. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Call toll free for subscription information, 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-876-8633, extension 9PK1.
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