Is this episode Dr. Amy details the five ways stress can be dangerous and potentially fatal, depending on how it's managed and an individual's circumstances and health. Chronic stress can lead to long-term activation of the body's stress response system, which can disrupt almost all bodily processes. This can lead to toxic levels of stress hormones like cortisol, which can interfere with learning and memory, lower immune function and bone density, and increase blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease.