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According to Anne Woodham, author of Beating stress at work, "In the UK, an estimated 270,000 people take time off every day because of stress0erlated illness, a cumulative cost in sick pay and lost production of around 7 billion pound a year and rising. These are just reported cases.
Doctors' surgeries are filled with sufferers from countless illnesses that often fall into the category of 'stress-related' like high blood pressure, anxiety, ulcers, depression, tension, exhaustion, insomnia, diabetes, eczema. PMT can also worsen when we're under high pressure. Ultimately, in fact, it's believed that stress can depress the immune system, leaving us prey to every bout of cold and 'flu (or more serious complaints) many of us manage conveniently, to schedule those illnesses for our free time, a syndrome that's recognized by doctors. Work till Friday, get a cold on Saturday, back to work Monday..
There are those brave enough to risk black marks against their names for daring to complain while their colleagues put up with equally stressful workloads. But suing your boss could become the latest bandwagon. According to Anne, "stress occurs when life's out of control and suing your boss is within your power." Some stress professionals suggested learning tricks for turning life's hurdles into opportunities.
Illnesses cause by stress
Ladies, Drink milk now!
Milk is no mere kids' stuff. Research in France shows that calcium and vitamin D in milk not only build bones but could prevent serious hip fractures in older women.
In French study, 1'634 elderly women received calcium and vitamin supplements daily for 18 months. Another similar size group received a placebo (fake pills). The study found that only 21 in the supplemented group had hip fractures compared to 37 in the placebo group. This was a 43 per cent reduction in hip fractures while non-vertebral fracatures were also cut by 32 per cent.
But there's a catch, you need a dozen glasses of milk to match the high calcium and vitamin diet in the study. Still, the researchers are excited because hip fractures only affect women late in life. Besides, nutritionists say we absorb lots of calcium from vegetables like soy beans, broccoli, kale and bok choy.
So it makes sense to bolster our diet now to build up bone density and to protect against serious fracture later.
