No matter how small or severe the stressor, your body responds in the same way.

This leads to a rise in heart rate and blood pressure and, in turn, changes to almost every bodily system. This includes the immune system, digestive system, and brain.

Cortisol “can be beneficial in some circumstances, such as when it motivates you to complete your work on time,” notes Dr. Patricia Celan, a psychiatry resident at Canada’s Dalhousie University.

“Cortisol gets toxic in high doses over a chronic period of time,” Celan explains, adding that this is what leads to serious health issues.

To learn more and explore strategies to deal, read the full article.