Study Shows Middle-Aged Women Significantly Impacted by Stress
Reported June 11, 2009
A study in Sweden reveals that blood pressure levels and serum lipid levels have improved for middle-aged women in the past 30 years but levels of perceived mental stress have increased. Around 1,462 middle-aged women were part of an ongoing Swedish study to examine these characteristics of middle-aged women. The study was initiated in the 1960s and has continued d until today when the latest research indicated stress to have risen significantly since the 1980s.
General Practitioner Dominique Hange, who authored the study, says, It is the women themselves who describe they feel stressed, and other research has shown it is the perceived stress that is most harmful.
During the period 1968 1969, it was found 28% of women stated they suffered from stress but by 2005 the level increased to 75%.
Researchers found those women who were mentally stressed at a higher death rate and a slightly higher incidence of breast cancer. At the same time risk factors for cardiovascular disease have gone down because more women today exercise in their leisure time.
According to other studies women respond to stress differently than males. They do what is called tend and befriend. In other words the nurturer take care of themselves and their children and form relationships with others. They talk through their problems with other women. Under acute stress they may choose the “fight or flight” response of males, but more often than not they choose the nurturer route.
All of this adds up to an important need for women to take care of the mental health and for families and friends to recognize that stress is a particular burden for women. Recently the American Psychological Association maintained women are often the primary caretakers for families and feel stressed about financial situations, which causes them to have psychological symptoms that include loss of sleep, changes in appetite headaches and other physical symptoms.
Experts maintain the best way for women to cope with stress is to keep up with good habits such as exercise, eating right, and socializing,. Women should take time out to focus on themselves and their own well-being. At the same time regular medical checkups are also important.
Medical experts maintain stress can impact health. Given the fact that middle-aged women are impacted by stress particularly at the present time, it’s important to make sure this group takes the right precautions to maintain good health.