Stress Facts

the modern day epidemic affecting your physical and mental health

• three of the main reasons people visit their doctor is anxiety, fatigue and depression all of which are primarily stress related
  
  
• 75 -95% of doctor visits are thus for problems associated with excessive stress
  
  
• 90% of modern day illness and disease could be initiated by the stress mechanisms of the body ( source : Dr Mary Asterita, The Physiology of Stress )
  
  
• chronic stress causes around 1,400 biochemical changes in the human body
  ( source : Dr Mary Asterita, The Physiology of Stress )
  
  
• around one in four people are now experiencing symptoms of chronic stress
  
  
• stress factors either into causing new health problems or exacerbating existing ones
  
  
• stress manifests as physical or mental symptoms - fatigue is the primary physical symptom and depression is the primary mental symptom
  
  
• data gathered from doctors indicates that 30% of all diagnosis of work related stress is for mental health issues
  
  
• the Health & Safety Executive in the UK are becoming increasingly proactive in legislation regarding stress management

The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for health and safety regulation in Great Britain.The Health and Safety Executive estimate that about half a million people in the UK experience work related stress at a level they believe is making them ill and that up to 5 million people feel ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ stressed by their work. While some stress is positive and inspires motivation, excessive stress undermines performance, is costly to employers and can make people ill.

In the USA, the National Institute For Occupational Health and Safety the federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work related illnesses also now admits that,"perhaps now,more than ever before, job stress poses a threat to the health of workers."