Most Americans believe that the greatest threats to their health are diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. Certainly those illnesses are statistically quite significantly linked to mortality and disability. But there is another more insidious threat that few people consider as life threatening, though most admit that they suffer from it from time to time — stress.

Not all stress is bad, of course. Were it not for stress, sometimes we could not learn, or meet deadlines imposed upon us at work. Nor would our body's "fight or flight" response engage, which sometimes enables us to perform superhuman feats, such as lifting a car up to free a trapped accident victim. Additionally, what stresses one person does not necessarily stress another.

But, when we are affected by stress, however, the effects can be serious and lasting. For example, according to the Arthritis Foundation, Ohio State University — Columbus, researchers measured an inflammatory chemical in older adults and found those who were taking care of a chronically ill spouse had four times the amount of it in their blood compared to noncaregivers. The increased inflammation marker persisted years after the sick spouse died, indicating that changes to stress circuitry can have long-lasting effects.

Stress can make us more susceptible to high blood pressure, heart attack, diabetes and other conditions. So, it's important to recognize when stress occurs, and do what's necessary to ameliorate it as best we can.

One major stressor for modern Americans is the workplace. More than 40 percent of workers report that their jobs are more than moderately stressful. Workers who have a heavy workload with infrequent breaks, or who perform mundane repetitive tasks, are often more stressed due to their lack of perceived control over their work.

Workers also tend to feel stressed when they feel that they have no real participation in the decision-making processes, or the boss is not sympathetic to an employee's personal situation, such as family care-giving responsibilities. Job insecurity is also very stressful.

If these situations are transient, and not ongoing, then the body copes rather well and rebounds. Employers should take heed that there may be an economic incentive to resolve workplace stressors whenever possible, since chronic illnesses that take years to develop, but are stress induced, or stress exacerbated, can cost them dearly in terms of absenteeism, higher insurance costs and lower productivity.

Even retirees face stress. The loss of a spouse is one of the most traumatic stressors that occurs in any person's lifetime. No one is immune from hardship or heartbreak. It is how we react to our losses or challenges that can make the difference between bouncing back, or having our bodies awash in stress hormones interminably.

The American Heart Association suggests several stress-busting new habits that anyone can try. Physical activity can help people let go of the tension in their bodies. It's important to get up and get moving if possible. Learning to accept the things that can't be changed, and learning to change emotional responses to stressful situations or manage anger, can help, too. Taking a break periodically to think of something pleasant and do some deep breathing exercises is a good idea, too. In fact, recent studies have shown that humor can help the body to release "good" hormones that help overcome the effects of cortisol and other stress hormones. In one study, this occurred with people who were merely told that they were about to have a humorous experience.

For more information about stress and its role in health and illness, visit the American Institute of Stress web site at www.stress.org or Medline Plus at http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/stress.html. The first step to managing stress is to recognize it. There are more than 50 common symptoms related to stress. Sleeplessness, muscle tension (especially backache or headache), appetite problems, frequent colds, and irritability are just a few. If you think you are suffering from stress and need help, contact your doctor. For information about local support groups for caregivers, or chronic illness resources, contact the Intake and Referral Department at SeniorCare, Inc. at 978-281-1750.