Stop Stress in 60 Seconds

Severe stress can do more damage than just turning your hair gray and making you shorter. People with chronic stress have a 59 percent increase in their odds of stroke over the next decade, according to new research from the University of Minnesota.

For every single-point increase in test scores measuring stress levels, study participants’ risk of stroke jumped 19 percent. Study authors think chronic activation of the fight-or-flight response may trigger your body’s inflammatory response to go into overdrive, impeding blood flow to the brain.

13 2-Minute Stress Solutions

by Jessica Baumgardner, Prevention

When we were 5, we might have sucked our thumbs for stress relief. As adults, many of us self-soothe with junk food, a glass (or two) of wine, maybe some mindless TV. But those are fixes that don't actually fix anything. Luckily, recent studies reveal some easy ways to lift your spirits and lower your stress that actually create positive shifts in your brain and body.

"Stress triggers the release of the hormone cortisol, which can damage our brains and weaken our cardiovascular and immune systems over time," says neuropsychologist Rick Hanson, PhD, the author of Buddha's Brain. We asked experts for their best instant mood boosters, backed by the latest research in nutrition, psychology, and neuroscience. Follow these tips and you'll be saying "aah" in no time.

Dealing With Holiday Stress

December is here at last and while everyone is counting down to Christmas, a lot of us are also counting the days of added stress caused by the holidays. The crushing weight of crowds at the malls, the interminable waiting at restaurants and in traffic--you know the holidays are here when you feel like decking not just the halls, but annoying people as well. 

Check out these tips on how to manage your holiday stress and keep calm. After all, Santa still has plenty of time to move you over to the naughty list.