Have you been experiencing any or some of the following recently?<\/p>\n
Persistent headaches, low energy levels, extreme fatigue, muscle cramps, bodily pain, insomnia, anorexia or excessive appetite, constipation or diarrhea, frequent flu episodes, unexplained abdominal discomfort, palpitations, low libido, erectile dysfunction, nervousness, irritability, anxiety.<\/p>\n
If you have, then you are probably stressed.<\/p>\n
As the year draws to a close and you strive to meet deadlines, hit targets and plan for the Yuletide, chances are, you are.<\/p>\n
Defining stress can be a little tricky, but I seem to like how WebMD phrases it- \u201cStress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental and emotional responses.\u201d<\/p>\n
With the patients I meet in my practice, the major source of stress is work. Many employed individuals work long hours and even overtime, and some take on a second or third job, just to make ends meet. The time for commute adds on to this predicament. The time spent going to and from work can be as much as half the time spent at work. And because of this, some prefer leaving work early and taking the day\u2019s work home to continue. This is a bad idea most of the time.<\/p>\n
Apart from work, other life events and daily happenings may be stressors for many individuals: a troubled home, a broken marriage, battling a chronic illness, taking care of relations (adults and children alike), combining work and school, and in recent times, the unpredictable supply of electricity. Also, people with type A personality (where everything must be prim and proper, spick and span) are by their nature more likely to be stressed than people with type B personality (the laid back kind).<\/p>\n
Stress in the short term can limit optimal performance and in the long term, stress has been identified as a risk factor for the occurrence and worsening of many ailments, including hypertension and breast cancer. It is thus important to limit sources of stress and deal with it promptly when it occurs.<\/p>\n
People deal with stress in different ways. Do what works for you, but make sure it is not an unhealthy practice like smoking, excessive drinking of alcohol, self-medication or resorting to violent behavior.<\/p>\n
The Mayo clinic prescribes the following to help you cope with stress:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Everything around us can be a source of stress. It is how we deal with it that determines whether we call it stress, a welcome challenge, or just another day. But as the year winds down, don\u2019t get wound up in the complexities of work and life. Take a break if you have to, but by all means, enjoy the holidays.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
By: Dr. Kojo Nimako<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Have you been experiencing any or some of the following recently? Persistent headaches, low energy levels, extreme fatigue, muscle cramps, bodily pain, insomnia, anorexia or excessive appetite, constipation or diarrhea, frequent flu episodes, unexplained abdominal discomfort, palpitations, low libido, erectile dysfunction, nervousness, irritability, anxiety. If you have, then you are probably stressed. As the year […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":69253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[8,15,38],"yoast_head":"\n