The fight-or-flight instinct protects us from danger, but too much stress can cause high blood pressure, an irregular heart beat and weaken your immune system.

“We are stress junkies,” says Dr. Bennett, When you’re excited and there are lots of things going on, whether it’s good or bad, your blood pressure is up. That damages the arteries and your blood pressure stays up.”

Manage your stress by:

• Slowing down – don’t overcrowd your schedule
• Getting enough sleep
• Exercising
• Taking time to relax

“Here’s a simple exercise you can do anywhere. For 2 or 3 minutes, breathe in slowly and very deeply and let it out with a sigh and let your shoulders relax," Dr. Bennett suggests. "Do it 10 times a day. Every time you do that your blood pressure tends to go down.”

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