Job Stress and Asthma
Job stress comes in different forms and affects your mind and body in different ways. Small things can make you feel stressed, such as a copy machine that never seems to work when you need it or phones that won't quit ringing. Major stress comes from having too much or not enough work or doing work that doesn't satisfy you. Conflicts with your boss, coworkers, or customers are other major causes of stress. It's normal to have some stress. Stress releases hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy. Stress can be useful when you need to focus on or finish a big project. But too much stress or being under stress for too long isn't good for you. Constant stress can make you more likely to get sick more often.
Signs of job stress
Here are some signs of job stress that will help you understand yourself better:
- Asthmatic attacks
- Headaches
- Trouble sleeping
- Problems concentrating
- Short temper
- Upset stomach
- Job dissatisfaction and low morale
It is only recently that doctors have turned their attention to stress. They now recognize that it affects our health in all sorts of ways. Some people react to stress by having a headache, others find that their digestion is upset and they may develop irritable bowel syndrome. Research has shown that stress, both major stresses such as bereavement of a marriage and minor stresses have a marked biochemical and hormonal effect on the body.
Stress may greatly reduce our ability to cope with life's demand. Conversely, the hormones released when you are under stress give you the push and incentive to meet deadlines and are the fuel of ambition.
Sometimes this stress buzz is what is attractive about a job, most newspaper journalist and financial traders feel at their most productive when they are under intense pressure.
Stress and asthma
Job stress can also bring on an asthma attack and make many allergies, particularly eczema, worse. It cannot cause them, but it can trigger them. Many parents with an asthmatic child have to resign themselves to birthday parties bringing on an attack because of the combination of excitement and exercise. Physical factors, such as dust and the house dust mite, can trigger an attack.
Asthma and allergies are certainly not all in the mind, but the mind has a powerful impact on them. This may explain why a number of complementary therapies, which aim to restore a healthy balance of mind and body, have had success in treating asthma. The overexcitement at a children's party is an all too familiar cause of the onset of an asthma attack.
Tips on taking care of yourself
- Leave your job at the office, even if your office is a room in your home. Leave your cell phone at work if you can, or decide not to answer it during times you've set aside for you and your family. Don't check work e-mail at home.
- Be positive. Remember that everyone has good days and bad days at work.
- When you finish a difficult task, celebrate. Enjoy a snack at your desk, or—if your job permits—take a short walk or visit with a coworker.
- If you spend every second of your day getting things done, you may resent never having time for yourself. If your employer offers a flexible work schedule, use it in a way that fits your work style. Go into work earlier and take a longer break at lunch to make time for a yoga class or a walk.
- Regualr exercise under the doctor's supervision can greatly benefit asthma patients. Swimming is generally an excellent form of exercise for asthmatics. Other kinds of exercises can be beneficial as well. Be sure to consult the doctor before starting an exercise program.
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