It is clear that stress has a suppressive effect on the immune system, and therefore increases the risk of viral and bacterial infections. Stress also plays a role in diseases such as diabetes, CFS, digestive disorders, asthma and possibly heart disease. Many people also believe that stress increases the risk of cancer, however, to date the evidence for this is equivocal. In the literal sense, stress means a pressure or force that is exerted against something. In human terms, it is the way that we respond to pressures or demands that are being made of us.
Stress is a normal part of being alive.
It is impossible to live a completely stress-free existence, and you wouldn't want to. Stress adds excitement to many of the things we do. Stress also plays an important role in human motivation. During competitive sport, the stress of competing motivates you to play well, just as the stress of a reasonably demanding job keeps you on your toes, performing well. Experiencing a reasonable degree of stress is not a problem - the important factor is feeling in control of the situation.