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Stress Statistics: How Bad Is The Problem?There are all kinds of stress statistics out there. Reading them can be kind of overwhelming, and trying to make sense of them all can...well, stress you out. But just in case you had any doubts about how serious and widespread a problem stress is, here are a few statistics about stress. The American Psychological Association's 2009 report, Stress in America, indicates that:
That's 75% of adults with moderate or higher stress levels! That's a big problem. According to the report, Americans relieve their stress by:
Still, in response to stress:
Other responses include:
To complicate matters further:
(most commonly high cholesterol and hypertension) Plus, of these:
70% have been advised by their health care providers to make lifestyle and behavior changes, such as:
But get this: 14% say they are too stressed out to make these changes! Other reasons given for not making lifestyle changes were:
Additionally, according to the APA, over half the people who were told to make lifestyle or behavior changes also reported that their health care providers failed to provide information, concrete suggestions, and follow-up to support their recommendations. In short, these stress statistics indicate that we are more stressed out than we used to be and not doing very well in making the long-term changes that would reduce stress and improve our ability to handle it. Instead, we are relying on mostly sedentary methods of relieving stress. Since health care providers are often not showing us the way, it is going to be up to us to research and implement our own stress solutions. It's hard work, but none of us is alone in needing to do it.
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Stress NewsIt's National Stress Awareness Month!Did you know April is National Stress Awareness Month? Since 1992, thanks to the Health Resource Network, Americans have a month to focus on the problem of stress and how to better handle it. According to HRN's website, health care professionals and people who promote health are disseminating information and leading forums, discussion groups, and community events to raise awareness and educate the public about stress.
There's also a National Stress Awareness Day -- April 16, the day after taxes are due.
Which may make it a great occasion on which to reflect about starting your taxes
earlier next year. Gene Reduces Vulnerability to StressIf you handle stress well, you may have mom and dad to thank. UCLA researchers studying the IL6 gene and the biochemical pathway that triggers it have discovered that people who have a less common variant of the gene may be more able to withstand life's stressful events. The IL6 gene controls the body's immune response, causing inflammation when activated during the body's "fight or flight" response to stress. The most common variant of IL6 is associated with cardiovascular disease and cancer, and people with this variant have an increased risk of death for 11 years after suffering a stressful life event severe enough to trigger depression. But a less common version of IL6 lacks the pathway for stress to trigger it, resulting in no increased risk of death following major stress for those who carry it. The study will appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.(UCLA News Release, 2/10)
Want More Stress News?Stress News Archive |
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Stress During Learning Affects Ability to Remember StuffIf you want to retain what you learn, don't try to learn it when you're under stress. German researchers subjected people to stress (immersing their hands in cold water -- ouch!) while they were learning words. During recall and recognition tests 24 hours later, the numb-handed people performed less well than control subjects who were not exposed to stress during the learning exercise.(Journal of Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 2/10) |
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