For many of us, stress has simply become a part of our daily routine, and we’ve learned to just accept that. It even has become a way to determine someone’s work ethic.

The common view is that if you’re not really stressed, then you’re most likely not working hard enough and not doing enough. It’s become a part of American society to think that stress means success. But truth be told, stress comes with a serious price.

Stress can actually be life-threatening if it goes ignored for long enough.  Stress is defined as pressure or tension that one can feel either physically or emotionally as the result (or interpretation) of a situation.

Stress, similar to other emotions, it can provide information for us. Whether a deadline is approaching, or if we are running late for a meeting. In such cases, stress can help us by motivating us to get the job done as fast as possible. In other cases though? It can be a serious problem.

If you’re feeling high stress of a regular basis, especially over situations where you don’t really have control over, that can be very problematic.

Being over-stressed can lead to chronic conditions such as sleep problems, anxiety and depression. It can also effect your physical health, by causing you headaches and causing pain in your body. It can also cause problems in your immune system and reduce your bone strength.  Stress can further increase your blood pressure, as well as impair your memory and ability to learn.

Chronic stress can lead to medical problems, such as a higher risk of heart disease and morality.