Stress plays a large role in most of our lives. I talk with patients (and myself) about stress very frequently, and troubleshoot the best ways to manage the experience of stress. How do you manage stress? Journaling, reading, exercise, hobbies, meditation are frequently mentioned stress relief strategies.

This Wired magazine article summarizes nicely how the experience of consistent stress affects the entire body. Robert Sapolsky, whose research is featured in the article, is the author of the well known book Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers. Aside from the conversation about vaccine development, it’s very informative, well worth the read, and helps to explain why stress is, or should be, a primary focus of health care.

This 30-minute video outlines the major research on stress and its relationship to cardiovascular and digestive health, memory, and aging and provides a great synopsis of why recognizing and strategizing stress management is primary to health and health care.

Read

Under Pressure: The Search for a Stress Vaccine

Watch

Stress, Portrait of a Killer