Rule 8Manage Your Stress

The consequences of stress are not only emotional. Physical structures throughout the body take a beating. Tiny spines on the dendrites of brain nerve cells are worn away by stress hormones. Stress decreases our immune response and is associated with organ-choking visceral fat, which raises the risk of cardiovascular disease. A zone at the tail-end of each chromosome, called a telomere, unravels as we age. When we are under stress, telomeres come apart more quickly, which is associated with aging and cell death. Learning to consciously dwell on the positive things in our lives is a good first step.