Stress is a complex reaction at the biological, psychological and social levels. Most of the biological changes that occur in the body when it is subjected to a stress reaction are not perceptible to humans and diagnostic procedures are required to determine the level of the reaction. However, on a psychological level many symptoms produced by stress can be easily identified by the person who is undergoing such changes. The most frequent reaction when we are subjected to a stress reaction is anxiety.
Although it is true that there are individual differences in the perception of the Environmental Environment (what one perceives as a challenge, another considers it a threat and a third a normal situation) that the reaction to the environment is also different (some are controlled more than others) it is also true that there are situations that pose a greater risk of stress or dissatisfaction with work.
Often when talking about work stress, they tend to emphasize their "Complex Nature" derived largely from those little-known individual characteristics that should be taken into account. But in other public health problems there does not seem to be the "downside" to "individual characteristics".
Introduction
Initially, stress can stimulate the individual's activity, causing a process of increased resources (attention, memory, physiological activation, performance, etc.) that increases productivity. However, when this activation process is very intense, resources are depleted and fatigue comes along, as well as loss of performance.
To perform complex tasks, or to speed up simple tasks, a certain degree of activation is required. However, an excess of activation makes it difficult to carry out these activities.
Stress, a physiological reaction of the organism where different defense mechanisms are involved to face a demanding or threatening situation for our stability. We can be stressed and not realize it, being illnesses one of the first reactions of this silent evil.
By getting used to the hectic life we lead, many of us do not even notice the level of stress we carry, we tend to downplay it by believing that there is not much to do to combat it, whether it is within our personal or work life.
When getting used to stress, it is common to find symptoms such as anxiety, restlessness, nervousness, fear or anguish, the problem is that it is almost impossible to realize the problem if you do not reflect hard on this.
Work stress
Every year there are 160 million cases of occupational diseases in the world, so it is necessary to apply measures to improve the working environment, said the portal Trabajando.com.
The portal, leader in Ibero-America in the recruitment market, said that spending eight hours sitting in front of a computer during the workday can cause diseases that become chronic over the years.
Several conditions, he stressed, originate from tension and incorrect postures, which causes back pain, neck pain, headaches and exhaustion, among other discomforts.
All these symptoms could be avoided with simple actions, such as sitting upright, with a straight back, avoiding crossing your legs and keeping a certain distance from the screen, which due to excessive brightness can cause blurred vision, eye strain and eye irritation.
The portal cited information from the American Academy of Optometry, according to which 33% of those who suffer from these ailments when working in front of the computer, known as computer vision syndrome, will be affected by myopia in 2020.
The negative consequences of stress are multiple, but broadly speaking, its negative influence on health, as well as on cognitive deterioration and performance, should be noted.
Stress can negatively influence health in several ways, such as:
- For the changes in habits related to health, For the alterations produced in the physiological systems (such as the autonomic nervous system and the immune system) and For the cognitive changes (thoughts) that can affect behavior, emotions and health.
- First of all, stress modifies health-related habits, so that with haste, lack of time, tension, etc., unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, drinking, or overeating, increase and reduce healthy behaviors, such as exercising, eating a diet, getting enough sleep, preventive hygiene behaviors, etc. These changes in habits can negatively affect health and, of course, a series of addictions can develop, with very negative consequences for the individual in the main areas of his life, such as family, social relationships, work, health, etc. Secondly, stress can produce a high physiological activation that, maintained over time, can cause psycho-physiological or psychosomatic dysfunctions,such as tension headaches, cardiovascular problems, digestive problems, sexual problems; In turn, stress can cause changes in other systems, especially it can produce an immunosuppression that increases the risk of infections (such as the flu) and can increase the probability of developing immune diseases. Third, stress can overwhelm the individual so that he begins to develop a series of biases or cognitive errors in the interpretation of his physiological activation, or of his behavior, or of his thoughts, or of some situations, which in turn lead him to acquire a series of irrational fears, phobias, etc., which in themselves are a health problem (so-called anxiety disorders), but which in turn can continue to deteriorate health in other ways. For example,a person under prolonged stress can develop panic attacks, or anxiety attacks, which are strong anxiety reactions, which the individual cannot control, with strong autonomic discharges, fear of a heart attack, etc. Panic attacks are often complicated by agoraphobia (avoidance of certain anxiety-producing situations), dependence on anxiolytics, sometimes depression reactions from being unable to solve their problem, etc. These anxiety disorders are much more frequent in women than in men (2 to 3 times more frequent), but in general an anxiety crisis coincides with a period of much stress that has lasted a certain time. Between 1.5% and 3.5% of the population suffers from panic disorders with or without agoraphobia.The age of onset is between 17 and 35 years, just at its most productive age.
How to avoid work stress?
For this reason, Trabajando.com recommended certain measures to avoid these conditions, such as blinking frequently to rest the eyes, regulating the position of the screen and its inclination so that it is located in front of the user's eyes, at an ideal distance of 55 centimeters, so as not to strain your eyes.
The keyboard position can also cause worker discomfort, such as joint pain or long-term tendinitis, so it suggests leaving a distance of 10 centimeters or more to place the wrists on the table and not in the air. The chairs must be ergonomic, with mobility, seat adjustment, reclining backrest and with armrests, since in this way the back and the extremities will support themselves correctly, thus avoiding muscular pain due to improper postures.
Regarding the workplace, he mentions that he must have natural light, adequate temperature and ventilation, to lessen the physical and psychological wear and tear on the worker, who must rest for a few minutes and move to avoid stiff muscles and the sensation of burden.
"If this were to be carried out, many of the 160 million cases of occupational diseases" that the International Labor Organization reports annually in the world would be avoided.
Conclusions
- The stress response is a very important occupational risk in healthcare personnel. Feeling stressed depends both on the demands of the external environment and on our own resources to cope with it. Exposure to stressful situations causes the "stress response", which consists of an increase in physiological and cognitive activation. Exposure to stressful situations makes our body prepare for intense motor activity. Exposure to stressful situations prepares our body to act faster and more vigorously. Faced with the possible demands of the situation. If the stress response is too frequent, intense or lasting, it can have negative consequences on our body. The body cannot maintain a constant rhythm of action beyond its possibilities for a long time.If the stress response is maintained for a long time beyond the limits that are different for each person, serious disorders will occur at different levels.In any stress situation there are characteristics, among which a change is more specific or new situation. The consequences of work stress are multiple at the three levels: physiological, cognitive and motor. Stress can be assessed by analyzing and checking the stress self-assessment tables that exist for its assessment. There are proven stress management techniques and validated efficacy.Among which a change or new situation is more specific. The consequences of work stress are multiple at the three levels: physiological, cognitive and motor. Stress can be assessed by analyzing and checking the stress self-assessment tables that exist for your Assessment: There are stress control techniques of proven and validated efficacy.Among which a change or new situation is more specific. The consequences of work stress are multiple at the three levels: physiological, cognitive and motor. Stress can be assessed by analyzing and checking the stress self-assessment tables that exist for your Assessment: There are stress control techniques of proven and validated efficacy.
Bibliography
- Del Hoyo Delgado, Mari Ángeles. CNNT «Work stress Edit. INSHT. Madrid 1997. Labor Risk Prevention Law (BOE 10/11/1995). Regulation of Prevention Services. (BOE 17/01/1997). Peiró, José María. "Triggers of Labor Stress", Edit. Pirámide, 2011.Martínez Selva, José María. "Labor Stress", Edit. Pearson Education, Mexico. DF, 2009.Bullmore, Jeremy, “Another bad day at work”, Edit. Granica, Madrid, 2009.Frost, Meter J., “Toxic emotions at work”, Edit. Deusto, USA 2008.Sven Hernberg, “Introduction to Occupational Epidemiology”, Edit. Diaz de Santos.
