Stop stressing!

It’s World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April and this year’s theme is “Workplace Stress”.

Here’s some useful advice from the South African Society of Physiotherapy (SASP) to all those stressed-out people out there:

Do you sleep badly?
Is your neck stiff?
Do you get headaches?
Do you have tummy problems (cramping, constipation, runny tummy)?
Are you tired all the time?

These are some warning signs that you might be suffering from workplace or other stress, says SASP President Dr Ina Diener. “Many people consult their physiotherapists because they have stiff necks or muscular aches, which they assume is because they’ve been sitting at their desk for long hours. During the consultation, the physiotherapist often picks up that the underlying problem is stress, either at work or in the home.”

This is a concern for the physiotherapist, not just because it’s causing discomfort now, but also because it can be very harmful in the long term.

“Chronic stress has been linked to serious conditions that include heart disease, high blood pressure, type II diabetes, and depression,” says Dr Diener.

Ways to cope with stress range from visualisation to drugs, but, says Dr Diener, one thing that can help immediately, seldom if ever appears on a prescription pad: exercise!

• Even five minutes of aerobic exercise can stimulate anti-anxiety effects, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• Exercise improves brain function – great news for those whose heads feel fogged by stress!
• Exercise improves the ability to sleep – a vital tool in fighting stress
• Exercise triggers endorphins, the ‘happy hormones’ which act as natural painkillers
• Exercise boosts mood and self-esteem – what’s not to like?

And this doesn’t have to mean strenuous, sweaty hours in the gym or on the road.

“It’s good to have a regular exercise programme, of course, but really, any extra movement added to your day will help,” says Dr Diener. “That’s why the SASP and its members use the slogan, ‘Movement for Good Health’! Last year, an Australian study showed that participants in a simple lunch-time walking programme felt more relaxed and enthusiastic, more energetic, on the days they walked.”

So grab a friend or a dog and take a walk to de-stress!

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