Life & Work Stress: Impact on Health

In today’s day and age, stress has become an absolutely normal part and parcel of life. One of the positive impacts of stress is that it can motivate an individual to get that promotion at work, or run the last mile of a marathon. However, if you don’t get a handle on your stress and it becomes long-term, it can seriously interfere with your job, family life, and health.

According to a study, more than half of people say they fight with friends and loved ones because of stress, and more than 70% say they experience real physical and emotional symptoms from it.

Now, what causes stress? Read & understand what exactly causes stress and its impact on physical and mental health.

Causes of Life stress:

-The death of a loved one

-Divorce

-Loss of a job

-Increase in financial obligations

-Getting married

-Moving to a new home

-Chronic illness or injury

-Emotional problems (depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, low self-esteem)

-Taking care of an elderly or sick family member

-Traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, theft, rape, or violence against you or a loved one

Causes of work stress include:

-Being unhappy in your job

-Having a heavy workload or too much responsibility

-Working long hours

-Having poor management, unclear expectations of your work, or no say in the decision-making process

-Working under dangerous conditions

-Being insecure about your chance for advancement or risk of termination

-Having to give speeches in front of colleagues

-Facing discrimination or harassment at work, especially if your company isn’t supportive

Impact on Health:

Short-term Impact:

-Headache

-Fatigue

-Difficulty sleeping

-Difficulty concentrating

-Upset stomach

-Irritability

Long-term Impact:

-Depression

-High blood pressure

-Abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia)

-Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis)

-Heart disease

-Heart attack

-Heartburn, ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome

-Upset stomach — cramps, constipation, and diarrhoea

-Weight gain or loss

-Changes in sex drive

-Fertility problems

-Flare-ups of asthma or arthritis

-Skin problems such as acne, eczema, and psoriasis

Managing your stress can make a real difference to your health. One study showed that people with heart disease lived longer if they underwent a stress management program.