Stress is a significant public health challenge. The stress response gets a person through tough times, as the body rallies to evade a threat, and typically, when the danger subsides, the body can go back to business as usual. However, when stress is ongoing, it can cause harm like chronic inflammation. In addition, the constant activation of the immune system raises the risk for many adverse health effects, including heart disease and stroke.

It is key to keep stress at a minimum for personal well-being. Several strategies may help.

People are encouraged to get active. Exercise will not make stressors disappear, but it can relieve some of the emotional responses and help to clear thoughts to allow a person to deal with problems more readily.

Laughter is also useful for managing stress. Harvard Health says laughter reduces stress hormones and is a way to experience joy, optimism, and hope.

People may also try to reduce loud noises, which can sometimes trigger a stress response. Avoiding loud scenarios or wearing earplugs or noise-canceling headphones can help a person to think more clearly and be mindful.

People should avoid unhealthy habits for dealing with stress such as drinking alcohol or smoking. These habits can exacerbate stress and lead to additional health problems.

Meditation is another stress relief technique. The Mayo Clinic says attention is focused to help calm thoughts and give a sense of peace and calm. Meditation can include guided imagery, mindfulness, and visualization exercises.

Connecting with others is important, as meaningful relationships can create feelings of belonging. Feeling cared for and supported can help people cope with stress and be more resilient. Building connections involves reaching out to family members, friends, or community members. Sometimes just talking things out with others as a sounding board can alleviate stress, especially when listeners have experienced similar situations.

Stress can be detrimental to a person's overall health, and taking steps to reduce stress can improve quality of life.