When does Stress become an Illness?

Dr Rai from The London General Practice discusses the effects of stress on the body and how this can become a problematic condition. We all know the feeling, be it at work or at home; there’s just not enough time, and too much to do. Demanding deadlines in an unforgiving world where we’re always contactable and everyone expects an immediate response. Stress affects us all; a little pressure can be good, making us more alert and responsive, but too much leads to declining performance, fatigue and potentially an inability to function. Dr Angela Rai, London’s leading Longevity Doctor with dual expertise in Cardiology and Anti‑Ageing Medicine, applies her cutting‑edge longevity and preventative health experience to the understanding of fatigue. “In some respects, stress and anxiety are subjective measures and the outcome is dependent on several factors including the subjects own personal resilience. However, what we do know is that there are strong physiological links between stress, anxiety, and an individual’s ability to function correctly. It’s important to realise that there are direct links between stress (which can feel like an intangible concept) and our medical health and wellbeing, resulting in real discernible changes to how we perform. We also know that there are several factors which may make a person more susceptible to becoming severely impacted by stress or anxiety. These include their lifestyle, sleep patterns, alcohol, workload, underlying physical health as well as genetic or hereditary pre-dispositions. Through our work with patients and organisations we provide consultations including screens for underlying medical issues, as well as give practical advice on relaxation, exercise, nutrition and sleep. There are also medical interventions which can be appropriate in some instances.”