This thesis has three main objectives: first, the author explains the physiological mechanisms behind the inborn stress response, setting the stage for a discussion about the diverse ways in which excessive stress physically undermines long-term health, and primarily focuses upon its effects on the cardiovascular, endocrine, immune, nervous, and digestive systems. In the next section, the author considers why people with a lower socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to suffer from the undesirable consequences of chronic stress. Finally, it argues that being stressed out is not an inescapable part of life. Whereas coping mechanisms such as predictability, controllability, the presence of outlets, and social support have un-ignorable caveats, human internal perception of the world can help manage stress most effectively
