---
title: Stress and your health
url: https://mbmi.org/stress
description: What stress is, how short-term and long-term stress differ, the signs to watch for and what research supports for managing it.
author: Mind and Body content team
last_updated: 2026-10-26
---
# Stress and your health

Stress is the body's automatic reaction to demands. In short bursts it helps us cope. When it never switches off, it can wear on the heart, sleep, digestion and mood.

## Key takeaways

- Stress is a normal body reaction. The health concern is stress that is frequent, intense and unrelieved.
- Warning signs include poor sleep, tension, irritability, digestive upset and trouble concentrating.
- Regular activity, sleep, social support and relaxation practice all have research behind them. Persistent distress deserves professional help.

## What stress is

Stress is the body's response to a demand or threat. The brain triggers the release of hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which raise heart rate and blood pressure and prepare muscles for action.[1] (source 1)

This reaction is valuable when you need to react quickly. It becomes a problem when the demands are constant and the body never gets to return to rest.


## Common signs of too much stress

- Trouble sleeping or waking tired
- Muscle tension, headaches or jaw clenching
- Irritability, worry or feeling overwhelmed
- Stomach upset or changes in appetite
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions

These signs have many causes. If they last for weeks or interfere with daily life, speak with a clinician.


> From the MBMI Archive: [Stress](https://mbmi.org/archive/mind-body-basics/stress) — How the Mind/Body Medical Institute framed stress on its website, 2006–2009.


## Where to go next

- How stress affects the body
- Stress management techniques
- Stress at work
- Stress in children and teens
- The relaxation response, the body's built-in counterweight


## Common questions

### Is all stress bad?

No. Short-term stress can sharpen focus and motivation. Harm is associated with stress that is long-lasting or very intense.

### Can stress make you physically ill?

Research links long-term stress with higher risk of heart disease and with changes in immunity, but stress is one factor among many, including genetics, behavior and environment.


## Sources

1. McEwen BS. Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. N Engl J Med. 1998;338(3):171–179. doi:10.1056/nejm199801153380307