Prerna Uppal, New Delhi: Tension headaches, anxiety attacks, stomach or heart trouble- all of these are stress related.

While high levels of stress can prove deadly, there is an upside to stress as well.

"Some degree of stress is required for effective performance. If someone is not concerned about the outcome of their task, their performance would not be up to the mark. So that positive bit that is required to push a person to deliver is called optimum stress," says psychologist, Arpita Anand.

How do you measure what your level of optimum stress is?

While it's difficult to quantify, essentially experts conduct various tests to ensure that your stress levels match your ability to cope. And the hormones adrenaline and cortisol have an important part to play.

"These are actually important for the person to be able to cope with stress effectively. Only when these act for over a long period of time, they can cause problems," says Anand.

Short term bursts of stress boost the immune system, according to a report in the American psychological association's psychological bulletin.

But it also found that long-term or chronic stress causes too much wear and tear, and the system breaks down.

So how do you walk the line?

Figure out ways to cope. Give meditation, yoga and breathing exercise a shot to keep out of the danger zone.