lets say your boss calls you into her office and says she has bad news. wham! your bodys stress response kicks in and the hormones cortisol and epinephrine flow, making your mind hyperalert and speeding up breathing and blood pressureall to get you ready to either flee the scene or fight whatever danger youre facing. once your brainsenses that things are ok and youre not going to be swallowed by a bearor, in this case, cannedthings return to normal. in small doses, this isnt a terrible thing, but when acute stresses become chronicsay, michael kors handbag replica youre forced to work late every day for weeks or youre going through a divorcecortisol levels get stuck on high, and your body, heart and mind never fully relax. that kind of chronic stress increases your risk of heart disease, depresses your immune system (and mood) and causes headaches, back pain, breakouts, even weight gain. i can look at a womans belly and know how hectic her life iscortisol overload causes your body to lay down fat, particularly around your middle.