Why exactly is stress bad for us?

It’s a response our body produces to perceived threats.

Another term for stress is the “fight or flight syndrome,” which puts our body on high alert and releases adrenalin into our blood stream.

We feel stress when we are under pressure, whether it’s being late to appointment because of traffic or dealing with an unreasonable boss.

To be healthy, it’s important recognize when an event is stressful yet not let it trigger an automatic response that can send blood pressure soaring.

One technique that’s been proven to be effective is called “mindfulness-based” stress reduction.

It’s a means of perceiving that a situation is stressful but being in control of our reaction so we’re not producing “fight or flight” hormones automatically.

To learn more about managing the stress in your life, listen to a podcast by Summit Medical Group’s Nicole Swain, a professional counselor and expert on anxiety. She will take you through the steps you need to achieve calm in the face of stressful situations.