Mounting evidence is proving, beyond a doubt, that your emotions -- both positive and negative -- play a far greater role in your physical health than conventional medicine ever imagined. Lingering hostility and running arguments with your spouse certainly do your health no good.

This is yet one more piece of evidence that happier people are also generally healthier. Stress is a key factor in any illness, and it plays a major role in the health of nearly every patient I see.

To completely eliminate stress from your life is virtually impossible, and probably unhealthy. It is not that stress itself is unhealthy; without stress we would be bored to death. Exercise is a type of stress, and without it our health rapidly deteriorates.  

So it is not stress that is the problem, but the way you handle it. If you don't learn how to deal with stress in a healthy way, your brain may actually "rewire itself," altering its connections in such a way so it affects the way the brain functions.

So what can you do about it?

Clearly the key is not to eliminate the stress itself but rather adjust your body's ability to tolerate it. There are many effective tools that will help you address this, including a deep spiritual commitment. So find the tool that works for you and stick with it.