Robert Sapolsky's Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers explores the multifaceted relationship between stress and disease. The book examines how the body's stress response, involving hormones like glucocorticoids and epinephrine, impacts various physiological systems. Sapolsky details the effects of stress on cardiovascular health, digestion, the immune system, reproduction, and even growth. He contrasts the acute stress response crucial for survival with the damaging effects of chronic stress, emphasizing the complex interplay of biological and psychological factors in disease development. Finally, the author discusses the importance of social support and coping mechanisms in mitigating the negative effects of stress.

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