A little bit of pressure in life can be motivating and helps you to be productive. However, excessive or prolonged pressure can lead to stress.  Stress is the body’s way of keeping us primed for physical action if required, but there are times when it becomes too hard to cope with.  We become tense and pent up about everyday events such as traffic, meetings, and even minor family issues.

Over long periods of time we can develop:

• Muscle tension
• High blood pressure
• Backache
• Cardiovascular disorder

Some people also cope with stress with destructive behaviour such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol or overeating, all of which increase the risk of coronary heart disease.

If you often feel stressed, it is important to learn how to relax. Some people find that physical activity helps them cope. Some learn relaxation techniques and others find it helps to talk to someone.