RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC...LONG LINES...LOOMING DEADLINES...THEY ALL CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED LEVELS OF STRESS.

WHILE THERE'S NO UNIVERSAL GAUGE TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH STRESS IS TOO MUCH, DR. CHARLES RAISON SAYS THERE ARE SOME TELL-TALE SIGNS.

If you have high blood pressure, if your heart is beating too rapidly, if your blood sugar is on the high side, if you're gaining weight, if you're having trouble sleeping.

RAISON ENCOURAGES STRESSED OUT PEOPLE TO FIND BALANCE IN THEIR LIVES AND TO TAKE MORE RELAXATION BREAKS.

Take brief naps, it turns out that people who nap live longer than people who don't, take your vacations, not only will you be more productive at work because it will clear your mind, but they've shown that vacations actually extend the life.

HE ALSO RECOMMENDS TOUGHENING UP YOUR BODY THROUGH REGULAR EXERCISE.

We know that exercise is a stresser, it's like lifting weights on your stress system, it toughens your stress system and helps it better cope with the kind of things the modern world tosses at us.