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Basseterre, St. Kitts, September 13, 2017 (SKNIS): Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Dr. Hazel Laws, along with Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) Programme Coordinator in the Ministry of Health, Dr. Marissa Carty, has urged people to monitor their stress levels as this poses a higher risks for the development of NCDs while being guests on the weekly government programme, “Working for You” on September 13, 2017.

“Individuals who are in a very high stressful environment tend to develop NCDs more often than individuals who are in a more relaxed environment,” stated Dr. Carty, as she explained that persons with type A personalities, who she referred to as “workaholics” tend to suffer more from cardiovascular diseases as a result of overworking the body.

Dr. Carty further explained that high stress environments, including the workplace, can play a role in persons developing mental health issues such as depression due to a likely decrease in social interactions.

Working in a busy and fast-paced work environment is enough to make anybody stressed. With looming deadlines and presentations, and the need to get it perfect can have a detrimental impact on your state of mind, and you could be doing yourself and your company more harm than good. When you’re stressed at work, it could be very likely that these emotions carry over into your personal life too, meaning that you are unable to find a way to switch off.

If you decide to leave these stressful emotions untreated, the problem could become a lot worse. You may decide that talking with a therapist, seeking advice from a medical professional, or trying an alternative form of medication like CBD oil, that can be found in your area, has the desired effect on your mental wellbeing. As a result, it could be easier for you to handle the daily pressures of your workplace more effectively; contributing to the success of both your work and personal life. Some people may turn to stronger products such as marijuana to help them during these stressful and consuming times. This can come in many forms with a tarantula joint being one of them. Of course, not everyone is comfortable with smoking which is why marijuana comes in many different forms. Some people choose to bake it and turn it into cakes that are called ‘edibles’ and others would prefer to ingest a smaller amount of concentrated oils to experience the results. There are many different preferences when it comes to marijuana products, for instance, a recent survey has found that millennials reported preferring edibles and sativa products. Whatever product is chosen, there is no shame in asking for help when needed, and finding a suitable method of alleviating your symptoms should be of the most importance. But what happens to our bodies when we experience stress?

“When you are undergoing a stressful situation, your body is in a state of flight and fight,” said Dr. Laws, as she explained the link between stress and heart disease. She said that when the body is under a lot of stress, there is an increase in the production of hormones such as cortisol that increases the heart rate and blood pressure. She further noted that the prolonged periods of stress can lead to cardiovascular and other diseases in the body.

Dr. Laws advised persons to try and reduce their stress levels in a healthy way by stating that “it is important for us to develop appropriate coping mechanisms.”