I’m a stress expert – the 12 signs you need to act on to avoid life-threatening conditions and 5 ways to reduce symptoms

ALMOST 80 percent of us experience monthly stress that puts us at risk of high blood pressure, heart attack, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

And it’s one of the most common reasons people take time off work, given that GPs wrote nearly a million sick notes for people with stress-related illnesses last year.

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For Stress Awareness Month this April, experts are encouraging people to put themselves back in the driver’s seat by managing everyday stress to prevent it from becoming a health issue.

Stress is the body’s response to feeling threatened or pressured, and we experience it every day.

But too much stress can affect our mood, body, and relationships, leaving us feeling anxious, irritable, and lowering our self-esteem.

“We live in challenging, unpredictable times”

Neil Shah, founder of the Stress Management Society, which is behind Awareness Month, said: “We launched the Stress Management Society 20 years ago to help create a happier, healthier and more resilient world.

“Nevertheless, we seem to be getting further and further away from this goal.

“We live in extremely challenging and unpredictable times where a build up of or too much stress is a big problem. But we still don’t feel comfortable talking about it.

“We need to remove the guilt, shame and stigma that comes with it so that people feel comfortable raising their hands and saying, ‘I fight and I’m overwhelmed.’ ”

A racing heart, rapid and shallow breathing, elevated blood pressure, elevated temperature, tense muscles and clenched teeth are all signs that your body is dealing with stress.

Inability to think clearly, tears or anger, panic and fear are also signs that you are overwhelmed and need to act.

Neil explained how unhealthy stress levels differ from temporary, everyday moments.

He said: “Realizing that the stress or pressure you’re under is more than you can handle is the clearest sign that your stress level is bad for your well-being.

“It’s a bit like a bridge that needs reinforcements to carry the load. It will show the signs of buckling before fully collapsing, and it’s important to recognize these early signs.

“We’re designed to experience stress and it can be a good thing if you’re running for a bus or train or if you’re exercising.

“But it’s supposed to help you survive in a certain moment.

“We are not designed to be in this state all the time. It is extremely tiring and requires a lot of energy, which is why you feel so tired after a stressful day. If you find yourself going to sleep stressed and waking up the same, it is a vicious cycle and you should take action to help yourself.”

According to the Mental Health Foundation, 74 per cent of people in the UK have felt so stressed that they were overwhelmed or overwhelmed.

Inpatient hospital admissions caused by stress-related illnesses cost around £8.13 billion, according to a report by Statistica.

And around 79 per cent of UK adults say they feel stressed at least one day a month, with women being more stressed than men, according to staffing firm CIPHR.

Work, money worries, family and health are the main causes.

Neil said stress relievers and apps feel like they help, but they’re not the solution.

He said: “There is no quick fix. It takes time and effort. If you want those feelings to change, you need to better prepare yourself to handle stress and get back in the driver’s seat.”

This means breaking bad habits, including too much screen time, not enough sleep, not enough exercise or water, isolation, poor diet, and not enough free time or time outdoors.

He added, “If you’re making lifestyle changes and you’re still struggling to stabilize, it may be time to see a professional such as a GP or counselor.”