765 Managing Workplace Stress

Chronic Stress

Long-term chronic stress results from ongoing pressures at work, such as persistent job insecurity, excessive workload, or toxic environments, which can lead to serious health problems. It wears the body down, and the risk of serious health and safety problems increases. Some of the most common long-term effects include:

Cardiovascular disease: Long-term stress can raise blood pressure and strain the heart, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke.

• Example: An assembly line worker with no control over the pace of work feels constant pressure, which raises heart strain over time.
• Example: A truck driver who works long hours with tight schedules develops high blood pressure and experiences chest pain during rest periods.

Digestive problems: Chronic stress can lead to stomach pain, ulcers, indigestion, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) that worsen during stressful work situations.

• Example: A nurse working long shifts with little support develops symptoms of burnout, including exhaustion and emotional withdrawal.
• Example: A fast-food worker skips meals and eats quickly during short breaks, leading to persistent stomach cramps and heartburn.

Weakened immune system: Ongoing stress lowers the body’s defenses, making workers more vulnerable to colds, infections, and other illnesses.

• Example: An overworked restaurant manager who rarely takes time off gets frequent colds and recovers slowly due to constant exposure to stress and exhaustion.
• Example: A janitor working multiple jobs begins missing work due to repeated respiratory infections caused by stress and poor sleep.

Mental health issues: Continuous exposure to stress can contribute to anxiety, depression, burnout, and difficulty concentrating. Reduced ability to focus on tasks, forgetfulness, or making simple mistakes more often than usual. Irritability, frustration, or anger toward coworkers, supervisors, or even family members outside of work.

• Example: A customer service agent who is yelled at daily by aggressive customers begins experiencing anxiety and dread before each shift.
• Example: A mechanic starts forgetting routine steps during repairs and grows easily frustrated with coworkers over minor issues.

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