Itiscommonlybelievedthatonlyrichmiddle-agedbusinessmensufferfromstress.Infactanyonemaybecomeillasaresultofstressiftheyexperiencealotofworryoveralongperiodandtheirhealthisnotespeciallygood.Stresscanbeafriendoranenemy:itcanwarnyouthatyouareundertoomuchpressureandshouldchangeyourwayoflife.
Itcankillyouifyoudon'tnoticethewarningsignals.DoctorsagreethatitisprobablythebiggestsinglecauseofillnessintheWesternworld.Whenweareveryfrightenedandworriedourbodiesproducecertainchemicalstohelpusfightwhatistroublingus.
Unfortunately,thesechemicalsproducetheenergyneededtorunawayfastfromanobjectoffear,andinmodernlifethat'softenimpossible.Ifwedon'tuseupthesechemicals,orifweproducetoomanyofthem,theymayactuallyharmus.Thepartsofthebodythataremostaffectedbystressarethestomach,heart,skin,headandback.
Stresscancausecaraccidents,heartattacks,andalcoholism,andmayevendrivepeopletosuicide.Ourlivingandworkingconditionsmayputusunderstress.Overcrowdinginlargecities,trafficjams,competitionforjobs,worryaboutthefuture,anybigchangesinourlives,maycausestress.SomeBritishdoctorshavepointedoutthatoneofBritain'sworstwavesofinfluenzahappenedsoonafterthenewcoinscameintouse.Alsoifyouhavechangedjobsormovedhouseinrecentmonthsyouaremorelikelytofallillthanifyouhaven't.Andmorepeoplecommitsuicideintimesofinflation.Aswithallillnesses,preventionisbetterthancure.Ifyoufindyoucan'trelax,itisasignofdanger."Whenyou'retakingworkhome,whenyoucan'tenjoyaneveningwithfriends,whenyouhaven'ttimeforoutdoorexercise—thatisthetimetostopandaskyourselfwhetheryourpresentlifereallysuitsyou."Saysonefamilydoctor."Thenit'stimetojoinarelaxationclass,ortakeupdancing,paintingorgardening."
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