The American Institute of
Stress reports that research during the past two
decades shows 43 percent of all adults suffer
adverse health effects due to stress. Some of
the symptoms of stress include:
-
Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
-
Exhaustion
-
Restlessness and irritability
-
Changes in sleeping patterns
-
Physical ailments such as headaches
There's even worse news.
Medical studies increasingly point to direct
connections between chronic stress and serious
illnesses such as heart disease and arthritis.
And stress isn't just costing
us physically. It's also taking a toll on our
businesses. The Centers for Disease Control and
the National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health have found that stress is linked to
decreased willingness to take on new and
creative endeavors. Job burnout experienced by
25 to 40 percent of U.S. workers is blamed on
stress. The National Institute of Mental Health
estimates that absenteeism, lost productivity
and disability caused by mental distress costs
U.S. employers about $70 billion a year.
