Chronic stress may cause premature death, new study says

ARLINGTON, Va. (WJLA) – A new study says taking the meaning of the phrase “Don’t sweat the small stuff” to heart could benefit your health.

The most stressed-out people have the highest risk of premature death, according to a study that followed some 1,300 men for years.

It’s not just major life stresses, like divorce or job loss, that can kill you; it’s also how you react to everyday stresses, like traffic jams. The study, set to be published in the journal “Experimental Gerontology,” found that people who perceive their daily lives to be over-the-top stressful were three times more likely to die early than people who rolled with the punches.

Chronic stress increases levels of the hormone cortisol, which, in turn, affects memory, lowers immunity and raises blood pressure.

Experts say just 30 minutes of exercise a day will relieve stress. Meditation is also recommended.