Whether it’s work deadlines, debt or even road rage, we all get stressed from time-to-time.

While for most the feeling passes, others become overwhelmed and unable to cope.

In the short term, stress can leave us anxious, tearful and struggling to sleep.

But over time, continuously feeling frazzled could trigger heart attacks, strokes and even suicidal thoughts.

“In short, yes, stress can kill you,” Dr Diana Gall from Doctor4U told Yahoo Life UK.

“Though it’s not the stressful situations that kill you, it’s how you deal with stress that affects your health.”

When we encounter a stressful situation, our body produces hormones that send us into “fight or flight”.

This causes a surge in the hormone adrenaline, which gets our heart pumping and raises our blood pressure, according to the Mayo Clinic.

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The “stress hormone” cortisol also gets released, curbing functions that are non-essential in a fight or flight scenario, like the immune and digestive systems.

Fight or flight can be helpful, with the sudden release of adrenaline giving us the “boost” we need to get through a big work presentation or even escape danger.

Once the stressful situation has passed, our hormone levels should return to normal.

Read more: yahoo