Which statement is true about chronic stress and health?

Which statement is true about chronic stress and health?

• A. Chronic stress can affect mental and physical health
• B. No impact
• C. Only mental health
• D. Always harmful

Answer: (A)

Chronic stress keeps the body's stress system activated over long periods, which can affect both mind and body. Ongoing exposure to stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline can lead to mental health changes such as anxiety, irritability, sleep problems, and mood shifts, while also influencing physical health—raising blood pressure, increasing cardiovascular risk, altering metabolism, and dampening immune function. This broad impact is why the statement that chronic stress can affect mental and physical health is the most accurate choice. The other options are too narrow or absolute: there are clear physical effects as well as mental ones, and while stress can be harmful, it isn’t always described as unconditionally or exclusively negative.

Chronic stress keeps the body's stress system activated over long periods, which can affect both mind and body. Ongoing exposure to stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline can lead to mental health changes such as anxiety, irritability, sleep problems, and mood shifts, while also influencing physical health—raising blood pressure, increasing cardiovascular risk, altering metabolism, and dampening immune function. This broad impact is why the statement that chronic stress can affect mental and physical health is the most accurate choice. The other options are too narrow or absolute: there are clear physical effects as well as mental ones, and while stress can be harmful, it isn’t always described as unconditionally or exclusively negative.