Tension causes many ills

MODERN life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations and demands that whether you work in a busy office or run around after kids all day, for many people stress is so common it has become a way of life.

However, constantly running on overdrive may have a significant physical impact on a person's body.

In its Stress Report, The American Medical Association stated that stress is the basic cause of more than 60% of all human illness and disease.

Sanofi Consumer Health spokesperson for IcyHot, biokineticist Amy Philpott-Lichtenstein agrees with literature which states if you are under stress, your body responds by releasing hormones such as adrenaline and the 'stress hormone' cortisol.

This results in your heart pounding faster, your blood pressure rises, your senses are heightened and often your muscles tense up.

The contraction of these muscles for extended periods of time can trigger tension headaches, migraines and various musculoskeletal conditions.

She says the most common causes of muscle pain are tension, stress, overuse and minor injuries.

In literature, it shows that muscle strains and musculoskeletal disorders are the leading causes of morbidity and work absenteeism (22.3 % of people suffer with neck pain, 11 % with upper back pain and 10.7 % with lower back pain, commonly associated with computer usage).

"Tension in your upper back, neck and general stiffness can be caused by unconsciously tensing your muscles, which in turn can create serious muscle imbalances if you don't release the tension," Philpott-Lichtenstein says.

"If you are stressed and your body reacts with muscle tension, it is important to soothe the pains associated with muscle strains, sprains and simple backache."

Look for the signs: symptoms of sprains and strains may include pain, swelling and inflammation and loss of movement in the affected body part and moderate muscle strain may even limit some normal activities.

She says: "Whether you are stressed or you've been hunched over a desk or computer for two weeks, battling a deadline, whatever the reason, your back is aching and you are probably wishing for something, anything, that will put an end to the agony."

"Take time to ensure you are giving your stress-levels and muscle tension the attention they need and leave the pain of work at work," Philpott-Lichtenstein says.