Moderate stress is actually good for you

贵州 石光莹

A study found that low to moderate levels of stress improves working memory,which is the cognitive function that allows people to use to complete everyday tasks like remembering someone's phone number or recalling directions on how to get to a specific location.

However,the researchers say that there is one thing to note.First,the findings are specific to low to moderate stress.Once your stress goes above moderate levels and becomes constant,that stress becomes harmful.

“The bad outcomes of stress are pretty clear and not new,”said Assaf Oshri,lead author of the study and an associate professor in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Constant high levels of stress can actually change the structure of the brain.It leads to increases in white matter at the expense of gray matter,which is involved in muscle control,decision-making,selfcontrol,emotional regulation and more.Chronic stress(长期不断的压力)can also make people more susceptible to a variety of illnesses ranging from nausea and migraine headaches (恶心和偏头痛) to high blood pressure and heart disease.

“But there's less information about the effects of more limited stress,”Oshri said.

In previous research,Oshri and his colleagues demonstrated the low to moderate stress levels could help individuals build resilience（适应力）and reduce their risk of developing mental health disorders,such as depression and antisocial behaviors.That study also showed that moderate stress can help people learn how to cope in future stressful situations.

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What are the benefits of moderate stress according to the text?