Stress is an inevitable part of everyday life. Sometimes we manage it well. Other times, not so much. But understanding the role of stress in our overall health and wellness is essential to taking it head-on. It’s not just that stress can take over our thoughts; it can take over our bodies. From the flight or fight response to inflammation, from feeling anxious to feeling sick, it can deteriorate our bodies and our minds from the inside out. While many books promise tips on managing stress, this book takes it one step further to consider the science behind stress and how it affects our minds and bodies, offering evidence-based approaches to managing stress for optimum results. Amitava Dasgupta guides readers to a greater understanding of the mechanisms at work when stress is present and provides guidance for dealing with those physical and mental responses. While grounded in the science of stress, this work also helps readers employ those strategies that will best manage stress for better overall health.

"Dasgupta (The Science of Drinking), a professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at McGovern Medical School, provides science-backed methods for a general audience in this research-rich yet accessible text on managing stress. Dasgupta points out that stress cannot be avoided (and reveals a host of potential causes, ranging from financial or career worries to cell phone or internet addiction) and notes that 19 million Americans face stress-related disorders each year. Dasgupta presents a discussion of differences in how men and women typically react to stress, with women being more likely to use “tend and befriend” methods while men have a “fight or flight” response. After a thorough examination of the health problems associated with chronic stress (heart attack, stroke, and dementia among them), Dasgupta delves into a number of potential stress-busters, including pet ownership (with some fascinating factoids—one study found pet owners had 15% fewer annual doctor visits than non-pet owners), social activities, meditation, yoga, exercise, and even dark chocolate. With a lengthy appendix for readers wishing to dig more deeply into the many research studies cited, this text is user-friendly as well as practical and proactive." - Publishers Weekly