Q: What can I do if I feel stressed? |
| A: Try identifying you stress triggers and removing yourself from the situation or environment. You may also try a problem solving technique. If your stress is persistent, then you may consider medication and consulting a doctor. |
| Q: Are there over the counter medicines I can take for stress? |
| A: Yes. There are safe, ready to use OTC medication for stress. Visit www.crohnsstore.com for options. |
| Q: When should I see a doctor? |
A: If stress is causing physical symptoms, severe distress or making it difficult for you to function as normal, it is worth seeing the doctor.
It is important to remember that although stress is a usual part of life, extreme or prolonged stress can lead to other illnesses that will need treatment, so it is better to visit a doctor sooner rather than later. Stress has been linked to the development of high blood pressure and heart disease, as well as insomnia and depression, for example.
There is no diagnostic test for stress since everyone reacts to it differently, but a doctor will be able to spot the physical symptoms, and should ask pertinent questions to identify any underlying problems that might be the cause. In case there are physical reasons for the symptoms, the doctor may also want to do some tests to exclude certain conditions. |
Q: What is the relationship between stress and the Type A Personality?
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A: Research has shown that the type A Personality is one that is especially prone to stress. The Type A Personality refers to individuals who are ambitious, achievement-orientated and highly competitive to the point of even being aggressive. They are impatient, speak rapidly, do things quickly and are always in a rush.
Although many are highly efficient and successful in their work and achieve high standards of excellence, some studies have suggested that the Type A personality is especially prone to coronary heart disease and stress. There is also other evidence that personality type may lead to poor mental well-being, heavy alcohol consumption or smoking, and even increased accidents at work. |
Q: Is there a quick checklist to assess my stress level?
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A: Here’s a simple stress assessment. Score one point for every ‘Yes’ answer.
In the past one month, do you:
- have difficulty with your sleep?
- feel tired easily?
- feel constantly under pressure?
- have difficulty in concentration?
- find that you no longer enjoy your hobbies or other interests?
- feel incapable of making decisions?
- feel sad?
- feel irritable?
- feel that everything is hopeless?
4 or more points indicate high stress level.
7 or more points indicate very high stress level. |
| Q: How does stress affect hypertension and heart disease? |
A: Known factors such as diet, obesity, inactivity and smoking are natural contributory factors to hypertension, recently stress been included by researchers as a primary cause. The connection is as follows: continual activation of the sympathetic nervous system causes release of chemicals, which reduce the elasticity of arteries. This results in changes in the resistance of the blood vessels leading to raised blood pressure. The resulting hypertension can lead to heart disease because of the increased workload on the heart. Raised blood pressure also increases the likelihood of a ruptured artery as in stroke.
Chronic stress results in a release of fats into the blood stream. This is also believed to increase the risk of coronary heart disease due to fatty deposits on the lining of coronary arteries. |
| Q: How does stress affect stomach ulcers? |
| A: Some individuals appear to have increased secretion of gastric acid in response to stress. This may contribute to stomach or duodenal ulcers. Other conditions that are believed to be precipitated or aggravated by chronic stress include ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. |
| Q: Does stress cause ulcerative colitis? |
| A: Stress does not cause ulcerative colitis. It may, however, aggravate the symptoms. Manage your stress by preparing for stressful situations. Learn when to remove yourself from stressful situations, say "no" sometimes, and cut back a bit on commitments. Schedule a few moments every day to relax in a way that works best for you. |
