Your complete guide to STRESS

Your to-do list getting too long? Maybe you’re frazzled from family pressures? It’s natural to become overwhelmed from time to time, but statistics show that 74% of people have struggled with stress levels that have left them feeling unable to cope – potentially damaging their health.* Here’s how to create some calm.

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A hectic lifestyle can harm your health, so try these calming techniques

THE SCIENCE OF STRESS

Stress is a physical response to the pressures of life, but how does it affect the body? When we’re stressed, we produce hormones, such as cortisol, to trigger a fight-or-flight response. This keeps us alert and productive, but if the trigger is activated too much, ‘stress’ hormone levels in the body remain high and can result in problems. ‘Stress can lead to a rapid heartbeat, increased blood pressure, anger, depression, and many other health issues,’ says neurobiologist professor Robert Pickard, adviser to Potter’s Herbals.

Stress has many effects, including insomnia, fatigue, headaches, tummy upsets, low immunity, dizziness and pain.

High levels of stress can cause anxiety, forgetfulness and disorganisation, lack of focus, and poor judgement, and can result in you being overly pessimistic or critical. Burnout has now been recognised by the World Health Organisation.

SPOT THE SIGNS