The concept of 'stress and health' explores how prolonged or excessive stress can negatively impact an individual's physiological and psychological well-being. Chronic stress has been linked to a variety of health issues, including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, weakened immune function, and mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression.

The podcast episodes provided illustrate how stress, particularly chronic stress related to systemic racism and discrimination, can have significant consequences for individuals' health. For example, in the episode 'This Racism Is Killing Me Inside', the phenomenon of 'weathering' is discussed, which describes how the cumulative experience of racial oppression can wear down the body's systems over time, leading to increased vulnerability to poor health outcomes.

Similarly, the episode '1 simple question that could improve women's health' highlights the potential link between pregnancy complications, which can be viewed as a form of physiological stress, and an increased risk of future cardiovascular disease. By understanding the ways in which stress impacts the body, healthcare professionals and researchers can develop more effective strategies for early intervention and preventative care.