Experiencing stress in the workplace has been shown to increase the risk of heart disease for women under 50 years of age. Research conducted at Glostrup University Hospital in Denmark and published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine has found the link and say the effect is greater for younger women. 12,000 female nurses took part in the study. They were aged between 45 and 64 and their health was followed for 15 years. Those women who rated work pressure as "much too high" were 35% more likely to develop heart disease than those who coped better with the pressure. This finding was in place even after accounting for other risk factors such as smoking and diabetes. When the researchers looked at age differences, it was the younger women who were most affected.The researchers suggest that as women get older other risk factors become more important.

My book Promoting Happiness has chapters dedicated to both work satisfaction and stress and stress management.

New research supports previous research which highlights the benefits of volunteering. A poll of 4,500 volunteers was conducted by United Healthcare and Volunteer Match, in the US. Their findings were impressive. 84% of volunteers said such work improved their physical health and 95% felt it benefited them emotionally. Overall, volunteers experienced less stress and anxiety and were more positive about work. There was also lower rates of obesity amongst volunteers.

I have written more about the benefits of kindness in my book Promoting Happiness . You also get to complete activities to help you explore your own attitudes towards kindness and explore ways you can be kinder throughout your day,

Owning a pet has shown to bring people health benefits that are estimated to save $3.86 billion on health spending in Australia. This is according to the findings of research by the University of Queensland. The social, psychological and physical benefits pet ownership brings all add up to improved health. Pets lower blood pressure, reduce stress and offer exercise opportunities, especially for dog owners who may also get to befriend other dog owners on their walk.

Students with pets are less stressed than those without. They also reported being less lonely and depressed. These are the findings of a Ohio State University study which surveyed 350 pet-owning students. College and university can be a stressful time, with many students leaving home to start a new life which involves long hours of study.

This is further evidence that owning a pet can be good for your wellbeing.

Laughter reduces stress. Yoga also reduces stress. So how about combining the two? Laughter yoga therapy was developed by an Indian doctor in 1995 and since then laughter clubs have sprung up in 60 countries across the world. Participants engage in yoga sessions where full belly laughs are part of the lesson. People find the sessions uplifting, boosting their confidence and love of life.         

A survey conducted by Netmums found half of the respondents were drinking alcohol at home to help them relax after the day's stresses. 3000 mums were surveyed and of those who drank, 81% reported drinking to unwind and 86% admitted they were probably drinking too much.

Evidence shows that alcohol does little to relieve stress and can actually exacerbate it. Have a look at my article for healthier ways to relieve stress.

Menopausal women who practised yoga five days a week for eight weeks saw a decrease in hot flushes, sleep disturbances and night sweats and an increase in their performance in tasks of intelligence and memory. As well as practising yoga, the women heard lectures on the benefits of yoga, including using it as a means to manage stress. The improvements were greater than that found by the control group who just did strength and stretch exercises. The research was conducted at Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana in Bangalore.

Research at the University of Virginia and University of Wisconsin has shown that women who held their husband's hand during times of anxiety, immediately felt calmer. The closeness of the relationship had an impact, with women feeling more relief if they were particularly close to their husband. It would seem that such support from a loved one can help bring about immediate stress relief, which can be beneficial to the body long term, given the impact ongoing stress can have on a person.