We have all felt the effects of stress. Sometimes stress can be a positive force, motivating you to perform well, but it is often a negative one that can have significant health effects if experienced over a prolonged period of time.
Prolonged stress can become chronic; the longer the stress lasts the worse it is for both your body and mind. You might feel fatigued, unable to concentrate or irritable for no reason at all, for example. Chronic stress can cause wear and tear on your body too.
Stress can make existing problems worse and may also cause disease either because of changes in your body or overeating, smoking, or other bad habits people use to cope with stress.