April is National Stress Awareness Month, so it’s a good time to remind you how harmful stress can be for your mind and your body.Stress can affect you on a cellular level. In fact, long-term stress can lead to a wide range of illnesses – from headaches to stomach disorders to depression – and can even increase the risk of serious conditions like stroke and heart disease. Understanding the mind/stress/health connection can help you better manage stress and improve your health and well-being.The sympathetic stress response is a survival mechanism. This automatic response is necessary for mobilizing quick reflexes when there is imminent danger, such as swerving to avoid a car crash. This response causes stress hormones to rush into the bloodstream, increasing heart rate, blood pressure and glucose levels. Stress hormones also suppress the immune system leaving you susceptible to illness. Imagine this happening on a regular basis if you don’t control your stress!To help control your stress, you need to understand that if you can’t change your situation you need to change how you react to that situation. Take control of your own reactions and focus on what makes you feel calm and in control. Be sure to make time for fun and relaxation so it’s easier for you to handle life’s stressors. Everyone has a different idea of relaxing – you might go for a run while someone else might like to sit back in a corner and read a book. No matter what it is, just take time for yourself in order to help control your stress.