There are 2 types of stress the bad one and the good one; the bad kind is chronic like the tension caused by a sick relative or a unhappy marriage. But there are a lot of positives associated with short bursts of stress that ease up quickly like being stuck in traffic or sweating through a presentation at work.
In a study at Ohio University says that brief but intense stress were better able to fight flu; it also reduce risk of diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.
The reason is that stress jolts you into repair mode. It works like when you injure yourself your body reacts and starts to fix itself, healing your injury and revving up your immune system to protect against infection. Short term stress works the same way. Initially, it produces free radicals and hormones such as cortisol that wreak havoc on your tissues. But then, when your body senses the damage, it calls in the cleanup crew. If the stress is short-lived, you can heal quickly and still have enough energy left over to repair everyday wear and tear, like a scratch or a bruise.
Some researchers who study aging even go so far as to conclude that low-intensity stress could actually help extend your life.
