The Effects of Stress on Your Body

Ever notice that when you're feeling tension, your muscles stiffen? This does more than induce poor posture. Tense neck muscles can lead to tension headaches. And muscles aren't the only things that seize up when you're stressed.

Your digestive system may also slow down. Certain kinds of stress cause your body to go into fight or flight mode, diverting energy away from all functions that are not immediately essential, such as breaking down that meal you just ate.

Finally, if stress levels aren't kept in check, they can potentially hinder the growth of cells in the hippocampus area of the brain. In addition to creating a feeling of stress and anxiety, this can contribute to feelings of depression.

Luckily, there are relaxation techniques such as meditation, yoga and tai chi that you can employ to help calm body and mind.

A 2013 study out of the University of California, Davis showed that mindful meditation, a type of yoga that focuses on meditation and breathing techniques, can lower the levels of stress hormone cortisol in the body.