Stress Can Be Your Friend

(Found on the Web, at Health.com)

While chronic or extreme stress levels have been linked to heart disease and hypertension, among other things, research suggests that moderate levels can actually boost your health. Here's how it works --- When you're stressed, your adrenal glands release a cascade of hormones, including adrenaline, which ups your heart rate and boosts energy; and cortisol, which increases glucose in the bloodstream. When your body gets overwhelmed with these chemicals for weeks and months, you start to see ill effects. But in short bursts (like a day or less), stress can make your body more efficient and your mind razor sharp. For example, cortisol works in the brain to enhance learning and memory. Also, when you're stressed, your body pumps out oxytocin, a hormone that facilitates bonding -- making this is an ideal time to network and interact with others. Stress can make you heartier -- Channel it to heal your body -- Bursts of stress may prime your body to battle future ailments, and can even boost the immune system. Work through the short-term challenges, knowing that as long as you take some downtime later to breathe, your body's got you covered.