Is Work-Related Stress Affecting Your Health?

Unfortunately, occupational stress is becoming more commonplace in today's society. According to the statistics website StatisticsBrain.com, more than three quarters of American workers (77%) report physical symptoms caused by stress. Some people assume stress is nothing more than mental anxiety, but this statistic reveals the true effect it has on the body.

Only a third of Americans feel like they are managing their stress properly. If you fall into the majority, there are some steps you can take to regain control of your life. Before we dive into that topic, however, let's first take a closer look at occupational health and its effects on the body.

What Exactly Is Occupational Stress?

The World Health Organization defines occupational health as: "the response people may have when presented with work demands and pressures that are not matched to their knowledge and abilities and which challenge their ability to cope."

That definition pretty much sums it up; occupational stress is workers' response to their professional responsibilities and demands. This may include pressure from the boss to submit a report within X amount of days, or the possibility of losing your job due to company downsizing. These are just a few instances when a job may lead to a worker's stress

Common Symptoms of Occupational Stress:

• Headaches
• Muscle tension
• Muscle aches and pains
• Anxiety
• Elevated blood pressure
• Digestive problems
• Difficulty sleeping
• Irritability
• Weight gain
• Lack of energy

How To Better Manage Occupational Stress

The first step towards managing your occupational stress is involves proper diet and exercise. Eating a diet high in processed foods, sodium and fats (saturated and/or trans fats) will only hinder your body's natural ability to ward off stress. Try to get into the habit of eating lean meats, such as chicken and fish, along with fresh vegetables, whole grains and the occasional fruit.

Exercising can also reduce work-related stress. I know it's difficult to set aside a full 2 hours for a gym workout every other day, but there are several other alternatives available. Lacing up a pair of sneakers and hitting the neighborhood for a 30-minute jog is enough to kick your body's endorphines into overdrive.

Lastly, try performing some deep breathing exercises to better manage your occupational stress. Take a slow, deep breath, hold it in for few seconds, and release. You'll probably be surprised to learn just how much of a difference deep breathing exercises make on your stress levels.

How do you manage occupational stress? We'd love to hear your solution in the comments section below!