It’s no secret. America is in the midst of one of the most stressful times in its history. Several studies have been released this year that detail how many people feel stress in their daily lives, and how that stress load is increasing.
High gas prices, stock market instability, and rising costs of everything from phone bills to electric to food — all of these factors contribute to increased stress. In addition to physical aches and pains, stress creates mental and emotional problems which can, and do, lead to sickness in the body. Many people react to stress by eating poorly, stopping exercise, smoking, drinking and missing medications.
Stress can cause increasing physical demands on the body, constriction of the coronary blood vessels and heightened electrical instability in the heart. “Prolonged stress, both emotional and physical, impacts the overall cardiovascular status of our patients, particularly their blood pressure,” said Keith Churchwell, M.D., executive medical director of the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute.
A study of more than 10,300 civil servants found that employees under 50 who suffered chronic stress had a 68 percent higher risk of heart disease than those who were not stressed at work. The findings were reported in the European Heart Journal in January ‘08 by researchers from University College in London.
An American Psychological Association annual survey released in October ‘08 found a 13 percent increase in two years of Americans who say money is a major source of stress – from 59 percent in 2006 to 72 percent this year. In a recent Booth survey of 1, 000 U.S. men and women, age 18 and older, 47 percent of respondents said their stress levels are higher than they were six months ago. The number one source of stress: personal finance concerns, the top response for 49 percent of adults. The survey reveals deep and potentially dangerous levels of stress all across America.
The majority (55%) of survey respondents asked about stress effects cited “ability to get a good night’s sleep” as the top response. Another one-third reported that stress is impacting their physical health, and nearly as many reported that stress affects their personal relationships (32%).
Helpful Tips to reduce effects of stress
Find an outlet for stress – Exercise has been shown to be a great outlet. Focused physical activity helps keep the body functioning in a balanced fashion. Do some sort of aerobic activity for a minimum of 40 minutes, four times a week. If you can’t find the time, you may already be stressed.
Evaluate your diet – Eating foods of higher quality helps the brain to be more efficient. Avoid processed foods, such as fast food, as these obstruct the body’s balance.
Take the time to have regular checkups – Visit a professional who can help develop a plan to deal with stress. Getting regular treatment helps to relieve anxiety. Continue to take your medications as prescribed.
Play with your friends and family – Make a list of fun things you can do together that don’t cost a lot of money. Rent a movie, play a board game or have a pot-luck dinner get-together with friends.
Don’t fool yourself – Turning to smoking and drinking alcohol as “stress relievers” will only make things worse in the long run. Save your money and your health.
Get proper amounts of sleep – Using sleep aid drugs is not a good method as they create other imbalances within the body. Avoid watching the news just before bedtime since this can increase stress, making it harder to fall asleep.
Think positively – Count your blessings. When feeling blue, try to think of at least one thing to be thankful for such as your family and friends and the beauty around you. Try not to obsess about mistakes in the past or possible disasters in the future.
