Stress and its effects on the body

Some degree of stress is good for us, and we are biologically primed for it. But 'toxic' stress makes us physically sick, and powerful research is now revealing its potent impact on our developing bodies and brains. In this program from ABC Radio National's All in the Mind, Natasha Mitchel interviews Tom Boyce, Professor of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia and Bruce McEwen, Neuroscientist and neuroedocrinologist from the Rockefeller University. They assert that high levels of resting cortisol in disadvantaged children leads to all sorts of problems in later years, from tooth decay to cardiovascular disease and mood disorders.

Stressed out : the powerful biology of stress is a fascinating half-hour podcast.