Stress in Modern Life - Case Study Example

Stress in Modern Life Name Institution Date Stress in Modern Life Introduction Modern Life means a fast life and as the society continues to develop quickly, so is life becoming more and more stressful. The majority of the world’s population today suffers from stress-related illnesses and other health conditions that stress in modern day life exacerbates. Almost every aspect that constitutes the modern life contributes in one way or another to the causes of stress and the illnesses that relate to the same. There are numerous social relationships and things to tackle on a daily basis such as jobs, children, finances and studying among others; that reveal the detrimental impact of modern life stresses to human health. Evidently, current health statistics also show a rapid increase in the trend of high blood pressure, heart disease, physical weakness and depression cases. The situation continues to deteriorate daily due to stresses of modern life as well (Menzies, 2005). This study discusses stress in modern life in view of three specific aspects of modern life that cause stress and diseases or health conditions brought about or made worse by the same. Causes of Stress in Modern life In the past people had fewer relationships and science did not support life as much, it does in modern life; therefore the people worked under less stress and indulged in less stressful thinking. However, with the new era of technological advancements one would think that life would become different and even less stressful, but that is not the case. With the rise of technology, life has become faster, more competitive, the cost of living has catapulted; hence multiplying the daily challenges that lead to stress in modern life. There exist various aspects in the modern day life that could cause or contribute to stress, and one of these aspects involves work and the pressures involved in the same. According to Jackson (2013), most adults, who have families and dependents; end up combining the stresses of work and the pressures that come with providing for their families. Work stress involves meeting tight deadlines, working to meet the expectations of unreasonable bosses and customers and surviving the office environment and office. Therefore, such aspects tend to weigh down on the working class people causing stress and other detrimental effects such as illnesses and mental health issues. The most common health condition that results from work stress is high blood pressure that mostly leads to heart disease. Such conditions become even more serious when two aspects double up. For example after having a stressful day at work one still has to deal with the challenges of tending to the needs of her family; that also carries considerable amount of stress (Jackson, 2013). The physical and psychological isolation aspect also can cause stress because the lack of control over uncertain futures will directly make a person more vulnerable to stress. For instance when one is trying to meet the demands of this harsh life, the feeling that they cannot control the uncertainties of expected outcomes contributes to stress. Studies have revealed that this aspect affects the youth immensely with 40% of them and 80% of the working class people reporting severe forms of stress; due to the same. For example when a young person aspires to pursue their career, and they have no funds to do so; this kind of uncertainty is likely to cause significant stress to that individual. This type of stress usually leads to mental health illnesses, for instance, psychological disorders like depression and anxiety (Brady, 2013). Emotional trauma is also another aspect that causes stress; as seen in patients who have undergone degrading ordeals and on-going fear and grief. For example, individuals who have undergone repeated physical abuse or emotional abuse tend to develop an emotional trauma or stigma that gradual lead to stress and stress-related illness. Emotional trauma causes fluctuations in blood sugar, mental capabilities, and blood pressure levels which in return causes of stress. Stress and Mental health illness Numerous study evidence reveals that in the past three decades stress –related illnesses like psychological disorders and cardiovascular problems have increased significantly. It is now a common occurrence to see youths and adults die from depression; because they could not handle the stresses of the modern life such as career pressures or emotional trauma. According to a research study carried out by the Oxford University, results reveal that women suffer up to 40% more mental illnesses related to stress compared to men. This trend results from the fact that women assume a lot of roles in the modern day life compared to men. Hence, they tend to accumulate more stress emanating from their effort to juggle roles. The study claims that in the modern day life especially in the U.S. more majority of women juggle between jobs and raising children single-handedly. As a result, they tend to exert over themselves in striving to meet the needs of both their jobs and family; which leaves them vulnerable to stress. Based on the recent statistical survey done in stress-related cases of mentally ill patients, findings reveal that about 20% to 40% of cases of mental disorders are more common in women than in men. A comparative study on stress management stress between men and women in the modern day life in the U.S. reveals that more men die from heart disease stress-related conditions because they prefer indulging in drugs and alcohol. According to Jackson (2013), this fact is because women are more expressive and tend to share with others on what stresses them compared to men who keep everything to themselves; accumulating stress that leads to heart disease among other cardiovascular problems. Professor Freeman, a clinical psychologist in the U.S. University of Oxford, reaffirms that stress has led to the common and increased cases of mental ill health in women compared to men in any annual year. Based on systematic investigations carried out by the national mental health survey unit, psychological disorders emanating from stress, account for 20% to 40% of the cases happening for women and men each year (Brady, 2013). Given that domestic work has very low value in the society nowadays, women, especially single mothers tend to go an extra mile to juggle jobs and still get paid less compared to their counterparts. This aspect of female stigmatization coupled with the pressures of work has left many women feeling overwhelmed and depressed for being failures to their children. As a result, these feelings gradually mature into psychological problems and mental illnesses like anxiety and depression. Separate studies in Britain show that rates of mental health problems are extremely high in both sexes. For instance, a mental health charity found out that each year in Britain, out of 1000 people at least 300 of them experience mental health problem related to stress. Out of the 300, 230 seek medical assistance where 102 get diagnosed with psychological disorders. The rest of them, 24 get referred to a psychiatrist or psychiatric hospitals for treatment with serious cases of depression and anxiety problems; emanating from stress. Additionally, anxiety is one of the most common conditions affecting mental well-being of a majority of people in the UK. Modern day life stress anxiety is primitively rooted in the individual responses to danger; thereby implying that an individual’s lifestyle can either generate or influence stress in more ways than one. Several findings are bound to be controversial about this issue because psychological disorders account for almost 50% of all illnesses in people aged sixty-five years and below. However, it is still clear that up to 9million of adults in UK suffer from stress-related illnesses such as depression and heart disease. Stress and Heart Disease According to recent surveys in the medical field, concerning cardiovascular problems, medical advances in treating heart disease continuously get undermined by the stresses of modern life. The American Heart Association explains that the routine stress related to the pressures of work, family and other daily routines in the modern day life may likely lead to serious health problems, for example, heart disease. Based on new research, findings point out that the pace of modern life and existence is slowly boosting the rise in high blood pressure cases; as well as threatening a global epidemic of cardiovascular disease (Arnetz & Ekman, 2006). Stress related high blood pressure and heart disease now affect roughly 25% of the world's adult population and about one billion people every annual year. Another survey report warns that the same figure is steadily increasing, and the numbers may grow to 60% by the year 2025 unless we take immediate action; which starts with the affected individuals. Looking at the annual mortality rate in relation to the deaths resulting from stress-related illnesses it is clear that modern life is, in fact, more stressful than the past. This fact is because each year an estimated 7.1 million deaths occur due to stress related illness and the numbers are rapidly increasing. Evidence shows more incidences of heart disease emerging in western countries such as Russia, Turkey, and the Central European states among others. Looking at the latest statistics on cardiovascular diseases related to stress, medical reports show that out of 82% of coronary heart disease deaths that happen every year; 65% of them relate to one or more aspects of stress. It is now evident that modern life is more stressful, and there is the urgent need for individuals to change their lifestyles or their approach to life; if we want to manage or beat this escalating trend. Medical practitioners have linked stress and heart disease to high blood pressure; which can severely damage major organ in the body causing system failures and eventually leading to fatal heart problems (Menzies, 2005). Conclusion In conclusion, stress qualifies as a common modifiable risk factor for premature deaths linked to the pressures of modern day life. This follows the UK financial report that shows the 7.6 billion pounds spent on treating stress related illnesses in 1999 and the billions spent every subsequent year after that. Looking at the aspects that characterize modern day life, and the evidence of common illnesses that continue to cause many deaths we can conclude modern life is, in fact, more stressful than life in the past. This study has successfully discussed stress in modern life in view of three specific aspects of modern life that cause stress and the diseases or health conditions brought about or made worse by the same. References Arnetz, B. B., & Ekman, R. (2006). Stress in health and disease. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. Brady, T. (2013, May 23). Women suffer up to 40 per cent more mental health problems than men due to stress of juggling roles, study claims. Retrieved April 30, 2015, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2329398/Women-suffer-mental-health- problems-men-stress-juggling-roles-according-study.html Jackson, M. (2013). The Age of Stress: Science and the Search for Stability. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Menzies, H. (2005). No time: Stress and the crisis of modern life. Vancouver, B.C: Douglas &McIntyre. Read More