How to Fight Stress-Related Diseases Stress-related health
problems can be the basis for many doctor visits. For example,
suppose Joe has inherited a predisposition to develop a
depressive disorder. For him, a difficult breakup with his
girlfriend may be all that's needed to trigger a bout of severe
depression and the need for a doctor's visit. Then, there's the
natural "fight or flight" response, in which the body
instinctively reacts to stressful situations by priming the body
for lifesaving physical action. When you're faced with extreme
stress, for instance, the stomach limits digestion to conserve
energy, blood vessels constrict to direct blood flow to major
muscle groups, hormone levels change, blood pressure rises, and
so on. The body responds to stress through very intense
physiological reactions that, over time, can impact a person's
health. Keeping stress in check No one can avoid all stress, and
a certain amount actually is good for you. But it's always best
to keep unhealthy levels in check when p