Stress Management: How Chronic Stress Affects Health

According to the American Psychological Association's recent Stress in America survey, the majority of Americans report experiencing higher stress levels than what they believe to be healthy. Equally troubling is the survey's finding that there is a significant gap between what Americans want from the healthcare system in terms of stress management, and what they’re actually getting.

Chronic stress can be detrimental to our health, and has been linked to the development of a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease. But as a country, we're beginning to wake up to the scary effects of too much stress -- and starting to consider how we can live with less. On Wednesday, the Forum at the Harvard School of Public Health, in collaboration with the Huffington Post, hosted "Managing Stress: Protecting Your Health," a panel discussion about stress and health, and the ways in which well-being, mindfulness, exercise and nutrition can contribute to healthier, more sustainable lifestyles.

Here's a recap of the discussion on Twitter: