The Wall Street Journal discusses the differences between the benefits of and damaging types of stress.
UCSF associate professor Wendy Mendes’ research has shown that in “adaptive” or “good” stress, blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow throughout the body, similar to the effects of exercise.
However, under threatening stress, what I call “bad stress,” blood vessels constrict instead, and lead to cold hands and feet, abnormal heart rhythms, and poor decision-making.
Over the long run, chronic stress can lead to mental and heart problems.