Today, we lead an increasingly stressful life. Some experts are of the opinion that a little stress can be good for you. A small dose of stress pushes the limits of an individual both physically and mentally and is sometimes crucial for achieving optimum performance. Stress induces a 'fight or flight' response in our body, which leads to the release of adrenaline into our blood stream. For example, students sitting for an exam are often in the grip of a stress response and this helps them to focus and giving their best performance. However, as we all know, prolonged stress is very bad for the body. While a little stress enables us to meet deadlines, longer exposure to it might induce a heart attack or other major health crisis. 

Stress is both a physical and psychological response. When the physical and mental demands on our body are more than what it can cope with, the body starts to show the symptoms of stress. The usual characteristics of this kind of a reaction are fatigue, insomnia, developing an irritable disposition, constant and nagging worrying and in some cases, depression. The reasons for stress are many. They can be brought on by both work and personal situations. It has been observed that the increasing demands on today's workforce have actually led to a loss of productivity over the past decade or so. 

The 1997 National Study of the Changing Workforce (NSCW) noted that as compared to other industrialized countries, workers in America spend the most time at their place of work, which can lead to a host of family and job related conflicts. Also, the threat of downsizing is everywhere; constantly worrying about job security has become a part of modern life. Work related stress impairs both work and family life. On a more personal level, the loss of a loved one or a divorce can send people into depression. 

If you feel overwhelmed by the very task of leading your daily life, you are heading towards anxiety-induced disorders. Financial concerns related to your family, constantly worrying about your loved ones - all this leads to a very stressful life. Stress is very harmful for our bodies. Some of the primary manifestations of this are fatigue and the impairment of our immune system. This makes us vulnerable to diseases like the flu and the common cold. This may be accompanied by insomnia and digestive disorders (like stomach ulcers, irritable bowel syndrome and constipation). People who usually suffer from stress are prone to an increase blood pressure and related problems. Long term and chronic stress is especially harmful for your heart. It can also contribute to the premature aging of your brain cells, leading to neurological damage. There are supplements available that can help your body cope with a stressful state. Chief among them is Anxietol 7™, an all natural anti stress product from www.bodestore.com. Anxietol 7 helps strengthen the body's immune system and brings with it a healthy dose of anti-oxidants. It can be taken daily with a glass of water or juice. Always check with appropriate health professionals if you feel over come with stress. Adapt a multi-tiered approach of mediation, diet, supplements, counseling with professionals, and relaxing exercises like Yoga and Tai' chi and you can beat the threats of stress. Kamau Austin is a health and fitness enthusiast and advocate. He writes on a regular basis on timeless health and fitness tips at the Fit After Forty Blog. See more useful health and fitness news and tips at... http://www.healthandfitnessvitality.com/blogs/fitnessblog.htm

About the Author
Kamau Austin is Owner of AMS Publishing and is a business and fitness wellness advocate. See more of his health and fitness tips at www.HealthandFitnessVitality.com or get Internet marketing solutions at www.SearchEnginePlan.com