Recognized as the health hazard of modern life,stress can contribute,directly or indirectly,to heart disease,cancer and strokes,as well as a number of psychological problem,Children are as likely to suffer from it as adults,No one ,regardless of how calm their personality i s ,is immune.
"It is not only a problem for young urban professionals,"said Mark Greener,author of a new book called Managing Stress."In fact,it is often people who have little or no control over certain aspects of their lives-such as those in routine jobs or the unemployed-who suffer particularly badly,"added Greener,a pharmacologist and medical journalist.
Most people can cope with stress,and even need a certain amount of stress to perform to the best of their ability,But when demands for dealing with stress are greater than resources,strength or time it becomes dangerous.
"Stress is a response to a change in the environment,Anything that leads to change can cause stress,even if it's enjoyable,"explained Greener.
Stress is not a new problem,It has existed since cavemen hunted wild animals for food,But people are a lot better now at recognizing it and there is an increasing awareness among doctors that it causes many diseases.
Many believed the computer age and the women's movement(resulting in more equality between men and women more free time,But Greener says people are now working longer hours,have more information to cope with and are feeling more insecure.
"There is a great deal of uncertainty in the workplace,The old ideal of having a job for life is gone,"he said.
Greener believes that juggling the demands of home,children and jobs and the prejudice they face in the workplace are the main causes of stress for women.
"For men it is changing(sexual) roles and the lack of security they tend to rely on,"he explained.
Managers are also complaining of being stressed by information overload.:Having too much information can be as dangerous as having too little," said psychologist David Lewis,Studies have confirmed that certain personalities who are very competitive,impatient,aggressive and restless tend to suffer while the unhurried,relaxed and more passive Type B personalities don't.
"Everyone is stressed,It is a facet of life," said Greener."What we have to do is try to manage it."