 If you have ever tried to concentrate on a task after a stressful day, then you know that stress can interfere with your ability to focus and think.  Reducing the risk of injury is one reason to reduce your level of stress.  Another reason is to prevent the effects of prolonged stress on your body.

 The warning signs of stress include changes in how your body functions and changes in emotions, thoughts, and behaviors.  Pg. 62 Figure 5  After understanding the warning signs of stress, the next step is to try and identify the stressor you are facing.  Once you know what your stressors are, you will be better able to deal with them.

 Severe or prolonged stress can affect your health.  Stress can trigger certain illnesses, reduce the body’s ability to fight an illness, and make some diseases harder to control.

 Can occur in your stomach, small intestine, or large intestine.  Stress disrupts the movement of food through the digestive system.  The food may move too quickly or too slowly.  You might experience gas, cramps, diarrhea, or constipation.  Stress will also increase the amount of stomach acid.

 Triggered by stress.  Stress can cause an asthmatic attack; in which the air passages of the respiratory system narrow, making it difficult to breathe.  People with asthma must recognize which stressors can trigger this attack.

 Stress can trigger headaches.  Tension in the muscles around your scalp, face, and neck may produce an aching or pounding sensation in your head.  A type of headache called a migraine begins when blood vessels in the brain and scalp narrow, which limits the supply of oxygen to the brain.  The blood vessels must then open wide to increase the flow of oxygen.

 Scientific research has shown that, during the alarm stage, some parts of the immune system may function better than usual.  However, prolonged stress can prevent the immune system from functioning well.  If your immune system is weakened you may develop minor illnesses, such as colds, more often.