If you want to reduce the impact of stress on your health, you have to do two things: Minimize your exposure to stressful factors, and improve your response to stress. Exercise combats the effects of stress by strengthening the cardiovascular system and stimulating feel-good hormones. Building your relationships with others, sharing life's burdens and enjoying their company, also helps you bounce back more quickly from stressful experiences. Getting quality sleep and making smart nutritional choices also play a part in regulating your stress hormones and minimizing the effects of stress.