Worried Sick? There Might Be Some Truth There

A recent report by health provider BUPA has found that people's worries are damaging their health by causing sleepless nights, loss of sex drive, and erratic eating habits. The 2007 Worry Report demonstrates that almost one in five people constantly worry about numerous things, and more than half feel they worry more now than five years ago. Half of the people surveyed this year, which is 6% more than in 2006, claimed they were more worried about their health and their family's health than about other concerning issues such as climate change or terrorist attacks. The survey finds that almost three quarters of people worry, but around 19% admit to worrying all the time or about a number of things.

The deputy medical director at BUPA, Dr. Paula Franklin, believes that there are many factors behind the growing health concerns and the most important is rising health awareness. She says that along with growing awareness of health problems and illnesses such as cancer, obesity, and heart disease, comes raised concern. The report found that 19 percent worried about obesity, 23 percent worried about heart disease, and 38 percent worried about cancer. More than a third of worriers were found to have sleepless nights, nearly half have had their eating habits affected, along with 1 in 8 drinking more alcohol to help them relax and 1 in 13 losing their sex drive. The BUPA recommends fighting anxiety and stress by talking to friends, regular exercise, balancing diet, and avoiding caffeine.