Decreasing stress does improve health. Illnesses are easier to treat. Since illnesses generally have other roots besides stress, relieving the stress alone may not cure most of them, but will help to bring about the cure. We turn to specific activities to improve our health and prevent disease, including better nutrition, exercise, good sleep, avoiding harmful substances, and regular medical checkups. In our experience, reducing and avoiding stress will affect each of these factors, and it is as important as any of them in avoiding disease and promoting healing.