According to the Psychosomatic Medicine journal, men who feel a lack of control at work, combined with heavy demands, may end up with what is known as a thick carotid intima-media (IMT). This is one of the ways that the early stages of atherosclerosis, also known as narrowing of the arteries, is detected. Untreated, this can lead to heart attack and stroke.
In the study, which included 542 women and 478 men between ages 24-39, were questioned about their job status. Questions included things like “Is your work mentally strenuous?” The results of the study were interesting; while more women complained that their jobs were more difficult and had more strain, it was the men who had thicker IMT levels. In fact, their IMT was 0.03mm thicker than in the men who said they did not have high levels of strain in their job. According to the researchers, even a 0.01mm increase in carotid IMT can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by 30%.
Here are some tips to help regain balance in life.
- Breathing exercises. Breath in through your mouth and out through your nose. Take deep breaths and count to 10 in between each breath. Try to hold the air in your lungs for at least 10 seconds before exhaling through your nose;
- Get into a routine of watching a certain television program every evening and stick to it. Make sure that it is entertaining and funny. You can look forward to seeing this bit of entertainment each night and will put some stability in your life;
- Get a dog. Although a dog may be stressful at first, a dog will force you to slow down when it comes to life. Like people, dogs thrive on routine. In addition to getting you to slow down, a dog will also help you settle into a routine;
- Find a creative pursuit. Stifled creativity can be very stressful for some people. This can also be the reason for your stress. Taking up a hobby that is fruitful such as painting or writing, can not only relieve your stress but eliminate the stress.
- Read a book before bed instead of taking sleeping pills. Reading a book is a natural way to relax and is a much better for insomnia than sleeping pills;
- Join a gym and force yourself to go. You may be more inclined to exercise if you actually shell out some money for the club. In addition to exercising, you will also get to meet different people;
- Join a group where you can meet people who have interests similar to your own. This will give you a renewed sense of confidence, enable you to make new friends and get your mind off of your own stressors;
- Volunteer to help someone else. Sometimes, just seeing other people who are way worse off than you is a real eye opener and instant stress relief. You end up doing something nice for another person who needs the help and everything gets put in its proper perspective.
- Change your job. It may sound radical, but if your job is literally killing you, it's time for a major change.
- Assess your relationships. If you have friends or family that stress you out, it's time to have a heart to heart with them about the way you feel and to look for solutions to help remedy the problem.
