Stress is an unavoidable part of life. It can result from many things, both physical and psychological. Pressures and deadlines at work, problems with loved ones, the need to pay the bills, and getting ready for the holidays are obvious sources of stress for many people. Less obvious sources include everyday encounters with crowds, noise, traffic, pain, extremes of temperature, and even welcome events such as starting a new job or the birth or adoption of a child. Overwork, lack of sleep, physical illness, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking are common physi-cal factors that put stress on the body.
Some people handle stress well.
Others are very negatively influenced by it. Stress creates an excellent breeding ground for illness. Researchers esti-mate that stress contributes to as many as 80 percent of all major illnesses, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, endocrine and metabolic disease, skin disorders, and infectious ailments of all kinds. Stress is also a common precursor of psychological diffi-culties such as anxiety and depression. While stress is often viewed as a mental or psychological problem, it has very real physical effects.