9 effects of stress on your body

Chronic stress can affect your whole body — from your head to your heart.
Stress is a powerful thing. In small doses, it can motivate us to ace that presentation at work or land our dream job. But when left unchecked for a long time, stress is anything but motivating.

So, what’s really going on when you’re stressed? And how can paying attention to your stress improve your health?

What is stress?
Whether you’ve just narrowly avoided a car accident or are worried about losing your job, stressful situations trigger a release of hormones known as the “fight-or-flight response.”

The reaction starts in a part of your brain called the amygdala, which processes