• The Gulf has the world's second biggest prevalence of heart disease.
• Workplace stress is by far the main cause of this serious heart condition.
• Stress management should be part of your daily routine.
The Gulf is afflicted with the second biggest incidence of heart disease and diabetes per capita on earth. And against a world average age of 65 for heart-attacks, the UAE figure is just 50. Inevitably, this means that many people are suffering their first heart-attack at 40 or younger. One factor is genetic. The local population happens to be pre-disposed to heart disease, and many expatriates from India and Pakistan are also genetically prone. But workplace stress is equally affecting the European community, who are not normally prone to this kind of disease on genetic grounds.
At one time women believed that it was possible to have it all and do it all. And maybe that is possible but at what cost? Recent studies are showing an increased rate of heart disease in woman, which is related to work stress. If you are running constantly on adrenalin caused by a high powered job, it will eventually affect the body. A stressed wife and mother will have its effects on the home and family life. They will notice, and this does not make for a calm contented home life. In a recent study, Harvard University studied 17,000 women in demanding jobs over a 10 year period and found that these women were 40 percent more likely to have heart problems. It used to be thought that men were more susceptible to heart disease caused by stress but now it is found that women in demanding careers are catching up. Women who have high-octane jobs can also have problem conceiving children as the body is running on adrenalin. The body is in a high state of stress and decides that this is not a good time to bring a baby into the world. Studies show that high stress levels can be really toxic for the body and therefore we need to learn to control stress or make lifestyle.
These can vary from person to person but some of the symptoms described include:
• Sleepless nights.
• Tunnel vision: Only thinking about work.
• Stress can make you aggressive or appear distracted.
• Crying.
• Stress can affect your mood so that you eat more and spend time watching television instead of exercising.
• A stressed person is not a joy to be around and it is important to learn to control stress and leave work at work and relax.
After all we work to live not live to work. Stress management means that you have to learn to have a cut off point and at some point in the day say: OK, work stops here, this is my time or my family time.
Stress management includes the increasingly important fact that time management is officially part of your working life and you need to recognize it.
We all need a balanced life to combat stress which means family time, social time, spiritual time, play time and time to take care of your health.
Exercise produces lots of positive energy; it is also brilliant for stress management. And it increases blood flow to the brain, which is good for us. Stressed staff cannot think creatively, whereas relaxed staff produce brilliant solutions and ideas. Exercise lowers levels of stress and there are also advantages for employers who encourage physical activity within the workplace.
• Try starting the day at home with my 10-minute mini-morning workout. For a copy e-mail me at [email protected]
• Taking a 10-minute walk at lunchtime; if it is too hot to walk outside, take a brisk walk at a local shopping mall
• Using the stairs for one floor to boost circulation adds another 5 minutes of exercise
• Remember every little helps.
• Ditching the coffee break and doing an exercise workout at the desk instead. For office workout e-mail me at [email protected]
— Meg
Cashews boast double the iron of most other nuts and also contain zinc, essential for a robust immune system and good skin.
— Alva
