However, when you consider what stress actually does to your body, you will soon realize that finding a solution to alleviate stress is absolutely necessary: Things Stress Does To Your Body. Stress can create both short and long term problems in your life. Your mental attitude has a substantial impact on your physical health, so when you are overwhelmed by stress there are both mental and physical repercussions. Here are some things stress does to your body: Increases your blood pressure, thereby making your cardiovascular system more vulnerable to disease. Stress can cause headaches, simply from running thoughts through your head all day. This exhausts your brain and sends it into overdrive, creating pressure points. When you are stressed, you overthink.