Constant physical or emotional stress can have a very negative effect on your overall health.  The immune system tends to break down and provide less effective protection against illness when under stress, meaning that you get sick more often and stay sick longer than someone who isn’t chronically stressed.

If you’re under constant stress, you may experience a wide range of physical conditions.  Sleeping problems, sudden pronounced weight loss or gain, stomach pain, increased blood pressure, decreased libido, irritability, and loss of concentration can all accompany a long period of stress.

The reason that chronic stress causes disease is that our bodies are built to respond quickly to situations that cause fear, stress, or pain.  The “fight or flight” response that gets us through the most difficult situations releases stress hormones that allow us to react quickly.  When the stress becomes long-term, our bodies become overloaded with these hormones, which eventually begin to cause damage.

Stress has been shown to be strongly linked to heart disease and type 2 diabetes.  Some doctors even believe that stress plays a part in causing cancer, although that connection is debatable.

To reduce the possible health risks of stress, do your best to eliminate the causes of tension in your life.  Eating a balanced diet and getting daily exercise can go a long way toward keeping you calm, balanced, and healthy.  If you feel stress overwhelming you, taking a vacation or speaking to a counselor or therapist can also greatly help your health.

The connection between mental and physical health is often overlooked, but it’s a strong connection that we should all be aware of.  Keeping your stress levels down and your outlook positive may do wonders for your physical health now and in the future.

1. People with glasses are smarter. Well, specifically, near-sighted people. In the late 1980s, several studies were conducted that made a tentative correlation between myopia (near-sightedness) and intelligence. The relationship may be due either to a single genetic factor that influences the size of both the brain and they eye, or to the amount of “near-work” (namely, reading) done early in life.

2. High-heeled shoes cause schizophrenia. You have to wonder where some medical theories originate. Why did Swedish scientist Jarl Flensmark decide to study a connection between heeled shoes and the incidence of schizophrenia? The world may never know. But his initial research seems sound, and he has connected certain brain activity with stimulation of certain points on the feet. The spread of schizophrenia around the globe has closely followed the spread of availability of heeled shoes. Is it an eerie coincidence or a real cause for concern? Look out, men - this theory applies not only to stilettos, but to any shoe with a heel.

3. Fat people really are jolly. In 2005, a research team in England conducted a study that seemed to suggest the larger you are, the happier your outlook will be. People with a low BMI (body mass index) are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. Thin people are even more likely to commit suicide. This is likely due to larger people having higher levels of serotonin, which promotes a calmer and happier outlook.

4. Mirrors might cure phantom limb pain. For amputees, the presence of phantom pain - intense pain in the missing limb - can be devastating. Painkillers don’t help because the limb in pain is no longer attached to the body. Navy neurologist Dr. Jack Tsao developed a therapy that involves holding a mirror up to the remaining limb to trick the mind into thinking that the amputated limb is still present. Mirror therapy has so far been extremely effective. Dr. Tsao has treated hundreds of amputees in the U.S. and Cambodia.

5. A vaccine can cure cocaine addiction. Drug addiction has ruined countless lives, but researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are working on a vaccine that can render the drug ineffective when ingested. Vaccinated individuals will stop feeling the effects of cocaine because their immune system will attack the substance in the body. The researchers believe this will cause the addict to stop attempting to get high. Not addressed by the researchers: how to keep addicts from turning to other drugs for their high.

6. Kissing may cut down on seasonal allergy attacks. Kissing may be more than fun - it may actually be great for your health. A 2006 study at the Natou Hospital in Japan found that couples who kissed for 30 minutes had lower levels of Immunoglobin E in their blood. IgE is responsible for triggering an allergic response to environmental factors. Oddly, just cuddling with your loved one doesn’t have the same effect. Apparently, kissing relaxes the body enough that histamine levels come down, resulting in relief from allergy symptoms.

7. Jet lag can make you dumb. Frequent travelers know that jet lag can be a huge pain. But could it be causing permanent damage to your brain? A 2001 study suggests that people whose circadian rhythms are disrupted by frequent time zone changes have lower levels of cognitive function. It’s not clear whether your brain ever recovers from these circadian rhythm disturbances - meaning that frequent travelers may lose brain power permanently.

Anyone who has ever had a migraine knows that the pain is unlike any other type of pain. A migraine can last for many hours or even days, and it often includes other physical symptoms. Dizziness, vision disturbances, and sensitivity to light and sound are common symptoms that accompany migraines.

There are plenty of prescription drugs to control migraines, but most of them require you to take them every day, whether you have a headache or not. For migraine sufferers who try to avoid excess medications, this option doesn’t seem like the wisest way to manage migraines. There are more natural ways to deal with the agony of migraines - and they don’t involve daily injections or mountains of pills.

1. Keep a journal of the foods you eat and your migraine symptoms. You may find a correlation between certain foods and migraines. Some of the most common offenders: chocolate, red wine, caffeine, and artificial sweeteners.

2. For some people, caffeine is a trigger. For others, it’s a treatment. When you feel a migraine creeping up on you, try drinking a cup of coffee or a caffeinated soda. You may feel the pain receding.

3. When the migraine has already started to take hold of you, try to get to a dark and quiet place as soon as possible. Put in earplugs, cover your eyes so no light reaches your face, and lie down. The absence of sound and light works wonders for many migraine sufferers. A nap may also help, so if you find yourself drifting off in the dark don’t fight it!

4. See a dentist. Some migraines are actually a result of temporomandibular jaw (TMJ) disorder.

5. Ginger, taken raw, in a tea, or even in cookie form, may help arrest the increase of migraine pain once a headache has begun.

6. Relax. Many headaches are caused by tension. If you are prone to migraines, tense facial muscles can bring on one of the painful episodes.

Experimentation is necessary when you’re finding a migraine treatment that works for you. Every sufferer is different, and every migraine is different. Keeping records of your symptoms can help you to figure out exactly what works best for you.

1. For earaches, de-shell a snail and put the snail’s “froth” in your ears. (If anyone knows how to harvest snail froth, please leave a comment. We’re dying of curiosity.)

2. Is your child suffering with a bad cough? No worries. Just pass them under the belly of horse three times and their cough will disappear.

3. Rub your warts with a black snail, then impale the snail on a thorn tree. Folk medicine practitioners obviously have something against snails.

4. If you’re ever bitten by a mad dog, two small white bumps should appear under your tongue, according to one Southern treatment. All that you need to do is cut those two bumps out and - presto! - your nasty case of rabies is cured.

5. Is that kid of yours sick again? This time with the croup? Simply mix together equal parts urine and goose oil and administer by mouth.

6. Apparently, even the worst cases of deafness can be reversed with x-ray treatments. (Maybe this isn’t exactly a home remedy, but it sure is weird.)

7. Rubbing snow on frostbitten skin. For some reason, many people still believe this one to this day. In case you were one of those people, please take note: rubbing frostbitten skin with cold snow is not a good idea.

8. Putting butter on a burn. This is another one that’s still used by some people today. The butter holds the heat in the burn while creating a perfect bacteria breeding ground. It’s like a bacteria disco in there. Run your burned flesh under cool water for several minutes instead. And avoid ice - that will just do more tissue damage.

9. Rubbing a live frog on your freckles is said to leave you smooth and freckle-free.

10. While you’ve got that frog, if you can manage to spit into its open mouth you’ll also be free of your sore throat.

Feeling sluggish and sleepy after a long night? Are your eyes becoming heavy-lidded in your morning meeting? Instead of turning to coffee or candy for a quick pick-me-up (and subsequent energy crash), why not try adjusting your diet? By eating a balanced diet with energy-giving foods every day, you can level out your energy levels and smooth those hills and valleys.

But eating the right foods is just one part of the picture. To maintain a steady level of energy, it’s also important to eat frequently to keep your body constantly fueled. Becoming overly hungry is a sure way to sap your energy and make you feel zombie-like for hours. On the other hand, overeating is just as detrimental to your get-up-and-go. Keeping a steady blood sugar level throughout the day is the key to keeping your eyes open all the way to bedtime.

Another important balance is that between the different types of fuel. Carbohydrates, protein, and fats all provide energy, but at different levels and rates.

Carbohydrates: Yes, despite all of that anti-carb mania, your body does need carbohydrates to function. Carbs are the first source of fuel your body will use because they provide quick, easily-processed energy. Whole-grain breads, oatmeal, barley, and whole-wheat pasta are great for fast energy.

Protein: To make the energy from carbohydrate-rich foods last longer, eat them with a source of protein. The protein breaks down more slowly in your body, so by the time the energy from the carbs wears off the energy from the protein will kick in. Nuts, legumes, beans, and fish are excellent sources of protein.

Additionally, foods that provide antioxidants can help you feel fresh and healthy throughout the day. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables is a great way to improve your overall health and keep you going through whatever your day throws at you. Add a few of these foods every day to shore up those energy levels.

1. Blueberries. One of the most antioxidant-rich fruits out there, blueberries can be added to your morning cereal or oatmeal for an added boost. Or eat them raw as a mid-afternoon pick-me-up snack with some whole-fat yogurt or a handful of almonds.

2. Sweet potatoes. These amazing tubers are often overlooked as a staple of a healthy diet. Evidence suggests that sweet potatoes can help to balance and stabilize blood sugar levels. They are rich in fiber, beta carotene, potassium, and Vitamin C, making them an ideal choice all year - not just on Thanksgiving.

3. Spinach. Spinach has often been called a “superfood.” It may help lower the risk of heart attacks and prevent many types of cancer. Spinach also helps to stabilize blood sugar in diabetics, lowers blood pressure, and provides a healthy dose of dietary fiber.

4. Mangoes. Although many people are confused about how to prepare this tropical delight, mangoes are well worth the work it takes to get through their tough skin. They are rich in cancer-fighting compounds, low in carbohydrates, and excellent for aiding digestion. Eating mangoes can even help to clear up skin problems. Mango skin may irritate some people, so it’s best to cut the skin off prior to eating.

5. Beans. Beans are good for more than just your heart! They are high in protein and can significantly lower your risk of heart disease by removing cholesterol from your body. Recent studies suggest that beans can fight off cancer and help diabetics regulate their blood sugar.

6. Salmon. Even if you don’t normally enjoy fish, you may make an exception for salmon. It can be prepared in almost any way and is sturdy enough to grill like a steak. It’s low in calories, high in protein, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids which aid brain function. Eating fatty fish such as salmon (don’t worry - they’re good fats) may even help to stave off age-related dementia, Alzheimer’s disease and depression.