Is stress really dangerous?

You probably think you're doing everything you can to stay healthy, you get lots of sleep, exercise regularly and try to avoid fatty fried foods that everyone complains about these days. But you may be forgetting one important thing. Relax! Stress has a bigger impact on your health than you might realize, according to research presented at the annual conference of the American Psychological Association in Boston.

Ohio State University psychologist Janice Kiecolt-Glaser says stress causes the body to release pro-inflammatory cytokines, immune factors that initiate responses against infections. When the body produces these cytokines over long periods of time, as a result of chronic stress—all sorts of bad things can happen. Not only does it hamper our body's ability to fight infection and heal wounds, but chronic inflammation also increases our risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, and autoimmune diseases including type 2 diabetes.

Of course now I probably having you worrying about stress which is actually the opposite of my intent with this post, but take a deep breathe, let's go over someways how to cope with stress.

You need to find out how you experience stress. The way I experience it or the way one of your friends does can be completely different. How do you know when you are stressed? How do you feel when you are stressed to compared when you are not? Normally I know I am when I get those semester projects and papers all at the same time.

Find healthy ways to manage stress. Think of healthy, stress reducing activities such as meditation, exercising or talking things out with friends. Keep in mind that unhealthy behaviors develop over time and can be difficult to change. Don't take on too much at once.

And more importantly, Take care of yourself. Eat right, get enough sleep, and participate in regular physical activity. Make sure you have a healthy mind and body through activities like taking a short walk, going to the gym or playing sports that will build both your physical and mental health. Take breaks from work. No matter how hectic life gets, make time for yourself even if it's just simple things like reading a good book or listening to your favorite music.

Basically if you do find yourself stressed out a lot, do something about it. There is nothing worse then letting it build up day in and day out because not only is it bad mentally, but it is just as bad physically. If you don't really like to do any of these activities grab a group of friends and just go out and do something that is fun for you. So come on bosses, coaches, teachers, parents, and even friends, can't you let up just a bit at times? You are killing us, literally.