In small doses, stress can be our friend. It motivates us and boosts our performance; it keeps us on our toes. On the other hand, long-term stress is anything but. Stress kick-starts our fight-or-flight response, activating our sympathetic nervous system and unleashing a geyser of hormones to prepare our body for battle. Though beneficial in the short term, those chemicals have a devastating impact on our internal organs and brain if continuously released over time.

Curbing chronic stress is key to living a long, healthy and happy life, explains Dr. Sharon Horesh Bergquist, in a TedEd presentation. To learn more, watch her video How Stress Can Make You Sick.