Stress is the physical and mental response of the body to demands made upon it. Stress has been examined scientifically for the past twenty years, and there are several things that have become evident. Stress is the result of our reaction to outside events, not necessarily the events themselves. Different things cause stress in different people. Some of the things students commonly cite as causes of stress include: examinations, returning to study, pressure of combining paid work and study, poor housing, overcrowding, noise, difficulties with personal relationships, parents or problems at home. If you have cancer and are not having any side effects from treatment or they are easy to manage, you may feel less stress than someone who is having many side effects. For others, just thinking about cancer may cause stress. Very often stress results from an accumulation of many different pressures which build up gradually without us noticing. Social support is the single most important buffer against stress. Social support means spending time with your family and friends.

Stress caused by work is the second biggest occupational health problem. Many people respond to stress by eating, drinking or smoking much more than is usual: some engage in risk taking behaviour. Stress is not only harmful to your health and wellbeing - it can also harm relationships - so it is vital to identify the causes of stress and address them as soon as possible. After a heart attack or stroke, people who feel depressed, anxious or overwhelmed by stress should talk to their doctor or other healthcare professional. These feelings are relatively common, and help is available. Students often complain that when they feel stressed they find it hard to concentrate, feel tired all the time, perhaps start to miss lectures and deadlines and feel they can’t cope. Other methods to try to relieve stress are deep relaxation, imagery and exercise. These activities can be considered complementary therapies when they are used together with conventional cancer treatment.

Causes of Stress

The common causes and risk factor’s of Stress:

• Lack of variety.
• Inability to finish a job.
• Death of a relative.
• Family disfunction such as abuse or alcoholism in the home.
• Lack of preparedness from middle school.
• Inability to influence decision making.
• Fighting unnecessary battles.

Symptoms of Stress

Some sign and symptom related to Stress are as follows:

• Increased heart rate and blood pressure.
• Lack of Concentration.
• Dry mouth.
• Tight muscles.
• Speech problems increase.
• Interests and enthusiasms diminish.
• Change in voice.

Treatment of Stress

• Practice deep breathing exercises.
• Eat a nutritious meal or snack.
• Severe instances of depression should be treated with medication that acts on the brain chemistry, affecting the chemical pathways associated with mood.
• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors have been prescribed for some time.
• Estrogen therapy can be used to improve urinary frequency, urgency and burning in postmenopausal women, and the tone and blood supply of the urethral sphincter muscles.