Causes and Effects of Stress - Assignment Example

Causes and effect of Stress FAISAL ALEMADI JOHN CLARK (Foundation Business) 12 Feb, U1477183 Is modern life more stressful than the past? Stresshas been identified as a factor in causing or exacerbating a range of health condition. Outline three specific aspects of modern life which could cause stress and provide two examples of disease or ill health which are brought about or made worse by this. In order to conclude whether modern life is in face more stressful, evaluate the evidence to show that these illnesses have become more common in the last three decades. Your evidence should be based on research into the UK and one other country of your choice. Topic: Stress in modern life. Focus: 3 aspects of modern life that cause stress and 2 examples of diseases. Comment: Outline, provide, evaluate , and conclude Restrictions: Last 30 years, UK and 1 country. Introduction General information According to Vrijkotte and others, stress can be defined as the physical or emotional tension. It is a feeling that is experienced when an individual is of the view that the demands are far above the resources that they can mobilize to handle the situation. In their works, Vrijkotte, Van Doornen and De Geus, reasoned that modern life is more stressful than the past, which cause a lot of stress to the person’s health. (Vrijkotte, et. al, 2000). “The preset world is marked by increased cases of stress that is evident in nearly every activity that we undertake.” as they claimed. Thesis statement This work will show the causes and effects of stress to describe how stress levels have risen over the last three decades. It will expose the some of the underlying factors on stress and its impact on people with focus on China and United Kingdom. Work Stress Miller said that some work are associated with excessive stress as opposed to the normal work stress. The things within a person’s ability to control include taking personal responsibility for the improvement of a one’s emotional and physical well-being, identifying the pitfalls and avoiding them (Miller, 2013). Others are avoiding negative attitude while at work and learning to communicate effectively with coworkers and other people at work. Family instability The WorkStress.net website indicates that work stress is likely to manifest by instability within the family. As a result of the stressing circumstances at the work place, people are likely to extend such at home by being very arrogant to the family members, uncontrolled anger, increased temper and communication barriers (WorkStress.net., 2014). Parents who are stressed at work are likely to abuse their children and unable to understand their needs leading to their poor growth and development. Wrong career In their book, Vrijkotte and others said that wrong career choices can lead to a lot of stress as well as inability to perform at the work place. One can know if they made wrong career choices when they are unable to enjoy their work and lack of contentment in whatever they are doing (Vrijkotte, Van Doornen, & De Geus, 2000). Lack of satisfaction from the job is another factor that shows wrong career choices. One need to choose a career that matches their skills and interest in order to avoid the stress associated with a given work. Unemployment Russell said that unemployment is indeed a very stressful experience as one has to struggle with many issues in a bid to ensure that life continues despite the present situation. Job gives people identity, they influence how we see ourselves and how we are perceived by other people. Apart from the inability to meet the financial demands, unemployment leads into low self-esteem and self-confidence, loss of social class with who to identify and associate with (Russell, J.2013). In a bid to overcome this form of stress, Russell argues that one need not to be ashamed of the situation which may lead into avoiding the company of other people or keeping off from social gathering as that will just make the condition worse. 1. Money Stresses Financial instability In the Website named “Family problems causing stress,” in 2007, financial instability results into a lot of stress due to inability to meet short-term and long-term financial obligations. “One of the areas in which financial stress is evident occurs when the daily expenses rises above the income levels.” (Family problems causing stress 2007, November 30). Job insecurity Russell claims that the stress due to the job insecurity has been found to be worse than unemployment according to a recent research conducted in the United Kingdom. Chronic job insecurity has been identified to be worse than smoking or hypertension. Job insecurity has been worsened by increased cases of layoffs, poor job terms, lack of flexibility at the workplace and the rise in unemployed (Russell, J.2013). This conditions have made most people in the United Kingdom to leave with the fear of possible job loss. Family issue Miller said that family stress has been ranked as the most common form of stress that is likely to be experienced in life. This is the hardest form of stress to deal with as it comes from those whom people are close with and must interact with on a daily basis. Miller argues that, “raising a successful family is marked by a number of challenges leading to increased stress levels among current generation families.” (Miller, 2013). Most teenagers who are brought up in stressful families have registered low academic performance, poor relationship with other people and low self-esteem. Domestic violence Domestic violence is closely linked to stress due to financial problems such as unemployment, job insecurity and low income. “Behaving or thinking in ways that are unfamiliar. This doesnt necessarily mean youre suffering from depression or an anxiety disorder” (Stress, anxiety and depression, 2014). People who are undergoing financial difficulties are likely to become violent to their immediate family members who may be expecting some financial assistance from them. Effects of stress Digestive problems Causes of IBS (UK) Irritable Bowel Syndrome relates to a common condition that affects the large intestine leading to intense abdominal pains, diarrhea, bloating, gas accumulation, constipation and cramping. There exist a close connection between stress and IBS based on the various forms by which the human body respond to stressful situations (NHS, 2014). Affects the Body (china) It was established by Bentley in 2014 that stress has considerable impact on the human body. Chronic stress experienced in the short-term is likely to put human health at a great risk. According to Bentley, stress triggers the ability of the body to fight any form of danger that it is likely to face (Bentley, 2014). In China, many people have succumbed to high blood pressure as a result of the stress hormones causing constriction of the blood vessels and increase in heartbeat. “Stress makes the body muscles to tense up which can lead to sharp pain within the muscles and other parts of the body due to failure to relax the muscles,” he argues. Heart diseases Increasing adrenaline by stress in a reason. (UK) Marsden said that stress can cause heart attacks as well as strokes. However, there is little scientific evidence on the connection between cardiovascular problems and stress. A study conducted in the United States established that stress leads to an increase in adrenaline apart from sending immune system into an overdrive which increases the number of white blood cells required in fighting diseases (Marsden, 2014). “People who have thickened arteries due to plaque and extra white blood cells are at risk of rupture of the arteries.” (Marsden 01-02). Heart attack (china) Miller found out that there exist a close relationship between stress and heart attacks. Acute cases of stress due to natural disasters such as earthquakes, disease outbreaks, hurricanes that have been witnessed in China, has lead numerous cases of heart attacks and sudden deaths (Miller, 2013). The major causes of stress in China include natural disasters, time urgency, inappropriate competitiveness, excess anger, extreme aggressiveness, preoccupation with work among others. According to Miller, stress may not contribute directly to heart attack but it increases other factors that and behaviors that are likely to cause heart attack. Conclusion Summary Modern life is more stressful than the past, which cause a lot of stress to the person’s health. Unemployment is indeed a very stressful experience as one has to struggle with many issues in a bid to ensure that life continues despite the present situation. Job gives people identity, they influence how we see ourselves and how we are perceived by other people. Restatement of the thesis statement This work will show the causes and effects of stress to describe how stress levels have risen over the last three decades. The impact of stress related complications have been felt in various part of the world with little emphasis being put on the means of eradicating them. It will expose the some of the underlying factors on stress and its impact on people with focus on China and United Kingdom. Final comment There is need to develop clear strategies on how to overcome stress related to work and family. Many people witness the negative impacts of stress and they are unable to connect such health complications to stressful situations hence the condition worsens. References Bentley, S. (2014, November 26). Chinese Medicine for Stress Relief. Retrieved from http://blog.aoma.edu/blog/bid/257511/Chinese-Medicine-for-Stress-Relief Family problems causing stress. (2007, November 30). Retrieved from http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/interactive/discussion/family-problems-causing-stress-t13854-f35.html Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - Causes . (2014, September 25). Retrieved from http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Irritable-bowel-syndrome/Pages/Causes.aspx Marsden, R. (2014, June 23). Proof that stress really does cause heart attacks: Adrenaline can increase white blood cell production which can cause ruptures. Retrieved from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2665424/proof-stress-really-does-cause-heart-attacks-Adrenaline-increase-white-blood-cell-production-cause-reptures.html Miller, D. (2013, May 16). Advertising man, 24, dies of heart attack brought on by overwork after staying at the office until 11pm each night in China. Retrieved March 1, 2015, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2325364/Advertising-man-Li-Yuan-24-dies-heart-attack-brought-overwork.html Russell, J. (2013, May 1). A climate of fear: Employees face greater stress and job insecurity while working harder. Retrieved from http://www.ioe.ac.uk/newsEvents/87219.html Stress, anxiety and depression. (2014, 01 06). Retrieved from NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/types-of-therapy.aspx Stress, anxiety and depression. (2014, 01 06). Retrieved from NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/pages/coping-with-financial-worries.aspx Vrijkotte, T. G., Van Doornen, L. J., & De Geus, E. J. (2000). Effects of work stress on ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Hypertension, 35 (4), 880-886. WorkStress.net. (2014). Work Stress. Retrieved from The UK National Work-Stress Network: http://www.workstress.net/ Read More