Source: APA Topics — Health Disparities & Stress Link: https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/health.

The Physical Toll of Chronic Stress: How long-term stress silently affects the immune system, digestion, and fatigue levels.

When we encounter a stressful situation, our brain treats it like an immediate physical threat. It floods our system with adrenaline and cortisol—hormones designed to speed up our heart rate and divert energy so we can either fight or run away.

While this response is brilliant for short-term survival, modern life means our "alarm system" rarely turns off. When stressors become chronic, this constant hormonal flooding silently erodes our physical health.

According to the  ...