Relax and Live Have you ever felt sick in your stomach during a test Have you had days when you were so loaded down with homework that you had trouble sleeping Have you ever been so worried about something that you ended up with a terrible headache If so, then you are having stress. You’ve probably heard people say, "Wow, I’m really stressed out" or "This is making me totally stressed." Maybe you hear adults say this kind of things all the time. It is commonly believed that only rich middle-aged businessmen suffer from stress. In fact, anyone may become ill as a result of stress if they experience a lot of worry over a long period and their health is not particularly good. Stress can be a friend or an enemy, it can warn you that you are under too much pressure and should change your way of life. It can kill you if you don’t notice the warning signals. Doctors agree that it is probably the biggest single cause of illness in the Western world. What Is Stress Stress is what you feel when you are worried or uncomfortable about something. This worry in your mind can make your body feel bad. You may feel angry, scared, or afraid -- which can give you a stomachache or a headache. When you’re stressed you may not feel like sleeping or eating. You also may have trouble paying attention at school and remembering things at home. What Causes Stress Plenty of things can cause stress in our life. Our living and working conditions may put us under stress. Overcrowding in large cities, traffic jams, competition for jobs, uncertainty about the future, any big change in our lives, may be stressful. If you have changed jobs or moved house in recent months you are more likely to fall ill than if you haven’t. And more people commit suicide in times of inflation. What Does Stress Do to Our Bodies When we are very frightened and worried, our bodies produce certain chemicals to help us fight what is troubling us. Unfortunately, these chemicals are bad to the body. And if we don’t use up these chemicals, or if we produce too many of them, they may actually harm us. The parts of the body that are most affected by stress are the stomach, heart, skin, head and back. Stress can cause car accidents, heart attacks, and alcoholism (酗酒), and may even drive people to suicide. What Can We Do About Stress As with all illnesses, prevention is better than cure. A very common danger signal is the inability to relax. "When you’re taking work home~ when you can’t enjoy an evening with friends, when you haven’t time for outdoor exercise -- that is the time to stop and ask yourself whether your present life really suits you," says one family doctor. "Then it’s time to join a relaxation class, or take up dancing, painting or gardening." And once you recognize that you’re feeling stressed, there are several things you can do. You can try talking about what’s bothering you with an adult you trust, like a parent or teacher. Talk about what’s been on your mind and how it makes you feel. An adult may have ideas about how to solve whatever is worrying you or making you uncomfortable. Anyone can suffer from stress.