Everyone experiences stress at some point in their lives. While it can’t be avoided, stress can be managed. How well you do that can have a significant impact on your heart health.

Chronic stress creates unhealthy levels of stress hormones, which can raise your heart rate as well as your cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Stress is also the root of many unhealthy behaviors that increase the risk of heart disease, such as smoking, overeating and drinking.

Be Kind to Yourself. The first thing you can do to keep stress at bay is take care of yourself. It sounds simple, but it’s one of the hardest things for women to do. Women tend to put themselves last on their list of priorities, if they put themselves on it at all. If this sounds like you, consider this: You will be an even better mother/daughter/wife/friend/ caregiver/manager/employee if you are rested, healthy and happy. So have some fun, take a nap or go to the gym.

Ask for Help. Even if you can do it all, why should you? Over time, you are bound to get exhausted, resentful and stressed out. Seek help from family, friends and support groups. If you are still feeling the pressure, talk to a professional.

Find a Favorite Stress Buster. There are a lot of great ways to beat stress. For some people, organizing their desks or cleaning out their closets can help. For others, taking time to relax or sharing a good laugh with a close friend works wonders to improve their mood.

Find what works best for you. If making it on time to an 8 a.m. yoga class twists you up in knots, it’s time to find a new way to take care of yourself.