As the world globalised and more interaction between countries take place, so is the level of stress. This can be supported by a 2005 survey done on over 1,000 managers from Asia, US and Austrialia, which highlighted the fact that more than 50% of the managers are exposed to information overload stress.



They were not optimistic that the circumstance will improve in a short time. And this is not only happening to executives, in fact all humans at any age, will face stress, the only difference is in the level of stress which can be very individualistic.

Technology is not helping as it should. Remember those days when handphones/internet are not so common. Once we are out of office, we can choose to be sheltered from events by virtue that we are isolated because we cannot communicate.

Now with handphones, internet and so on, we remain contactable and unless we make it a point not to touch those gadgets, it becomes an invisible pressure to continue responding to those information/people, while we are away.

When we are under stress, the HYPOTHALAMUS which is part of the brain that controls body temperature, hunger and thirst, gets triggered. The HYPOTHALAMUS then adds pressure to the PITUITARY GLANDS to release a hormone chemical ACTH (adrenocorticotrophic hormone) into the bloodstream. This further stimulates the ADRENAL GLAND to secrete more chemicals (eg CORTISOL) that affect various part of our body.

The net results : our bodies become charged on full alert for a fight or flight response ; tense and highly strung. We will feel cold, hot or thirsty suddenly and have a queasy feeling in our stomach.

If our stress is prolonged without control, it can weaken our immune system, causing us to be vulnerable to infection.

This is partly due to the CORTISOL released during stress which kills the good killer cells, MACROPHAGES in our body. MACROPHAGES "eats" invading bacteria, keeping us healthy. It also badly affects the functionality of THYMUS GLAND which plays a key role in the body's immune system. LYMPHOCYTES are produced by the THYMUS GLAND everyday. LYMPHOCYTES benefits you because it kills bacteria in your system.

Apart from physical illness, some experience emotional exhaustion as well. Too much stress leads to burnout, which is characterised by emotional and physical exhaustion. What follows would be all kinds of illness, emotional and physical as well.

In more serious cases, some choose to end their lives'it's sad and frightening, isn't it?

Who are under more stress ? Men or Women ?

Studies have shown that sex hormones somehow modulate the stress response, causing stresssed females to secrete more of the trigger chemicals than do males. Men may protest but more often, women have so much more to cope with than men - parents, children, other family members, their jobs and their health.

Women tend to be more affected by personal relationships longer than men. So they become worn out from it all more visibly and sooner.

If you wants to stay healthy, learn to say "No" and organise your priorities. Going for relaxation, meditation, exercise and prayer do help.

Take care of your health, starting now.