All stressing ourselves to death already
Taken from the Metro Newspaper, Wednesday, 5 January 2011
We may be barely back from the festive break but Britons are already feeling “extremely stressed”, leading to health fears.
Almost one in five women and one in ten men feel their stress levels are out of control as they begin 2011, according to new research. Stress pushes up blood pressure, putting people at higher risk of strokes, experts warned. A poor diet and lack of exercise also contribute to the chances of suffering a stroke, they added.
The survey, by the Stroke Association and Siemens, found almost a fifth of people took “no exercise whatsoever”. A similar number admitted they managed only 30 minutes of exercise once a week. And more than a quarter of middle-aged people – aged 45 to 54 – said they never exercised, despite suffering the highest stress levels.
“The research is incredibly worrying and empahsises the need for the public to be aware of the dangers of stroke,” warned James Beeby, head of corporate fundraising for the Stroke Association. “Stroke is the UK’s third-biggest killer and we’d encourage as many people as possible to take part in ‘Stroke for Stroke’ week and help raise awareness as well as vital funds. “It’s imperative that people take regular exercise and modify their diet to reduce the risk of suffering a stroke.”
So, what is the message? Look after yourself!
- EAT WELL
- REST WELL
- EXERCISE WELL
Massage can help with all three of those, and pep up your system for a better sense of wellbeing.
“Work, work, work, but what mark do we leave, what point do we make? People who are too beholden to work become like erasers: as things move forward, they leave in their wake no trace of themselves.” Booker Prize winner Yann Martel
