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Stress

Description

An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of stress.


Highlights

Stress affects most people to some degree. Acute (sudden, short-term) stress leads to rapid changes throughout the body. These changes could prove beneficial in a critical, life-or-death situation. Over time, however, repeated stressful situations put a strain on the body that may contribute to both physical and psychological problems. Chronic (long-term) stress can have real health consequences, and should be addressed like any other health concern.

Fortunately, research is showing that lifestyle changes and stress-reduction techniques can help people learn to manage their stress. In one study, people who received cognitive behavior training and were later exposed to stress had lower cortisol (stress hormone) levels as a result of the training. However, studies also show that many people must still learn these techniques and how to use them.


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