We all need some pressure in our working lives - It makes our work satisfying and helps us meet deadlines. A little pressure can be productive, even exciting and will increase motivation and performance. Too much pressure or prolonged pressure can lead to unhealthy stress levels which can have a detrimental effect on the mind and the body.

Pain is probably the most common condition seen by healthcare professionals.  It exists throughout the entire spectrum of disease.  You could even argue depression is a (psycholigical) pain.  All drugs have side effects....In complex conditions a combination of potent drugs will be prescribed.  Additional drugs to control the side effects of the first set of drugs may also be prescribed.  They in turn will carry the risk of side effects..... Anyone can see from this, that the burden on the patient and the immune system, can quickly become overwhelming. In addition all pain fuels fear and fear fuels anxiety/stress

Stress Disorders:  Chronic stress,in addition to promoting weight gain, has been linked to coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer. 

Stress in the workplace: The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) define stress as "the adverse reaction people have to excess pressures or other types of demands placed on them".

Stress is related to the fight/flight response, which produces a surge of chemicals into the blood stream, that are intended to prepare the body for action. They cause a general feeling of panic and uneasiness which is recognised by the conscious mind as anxiety and/or stress.  There my be a feeling of wanting to shout/scream, a twitching of muscles; a wish to run away to avoid having to deal with a confrontational situation.  When you are in a situation that prevents you from fighting or escaping the chemicals are not used. Therefore the response cannot be expressed.  Frequent or continued suppression of the response will often result in stress, anxiety and depression. A build up of the chemicals increases blood pressure, heart rate, and the amount that you sweat.  These chemicals can prevent your immune system from functioning properly as well as releasing fat and sugar into your blood stream.

Different things create stress in different people e.g. a sensation of being pulled in two or more directions at once; heavy workload; not having time to do everything that is required; demands too great for the level of skill possessed; excessively high expectations of ones self.

Some people cope better than others. Too much stress can lead to physical, emotional and/or mental health problems.

Stress related absence can be frustrating for employers due to the complexities of diagnosis and the perception surrounding it.  The 2005-2006 survey of self-reported work related illness in the UK found that up to five million people felt stressed at work and around 420,000 individuals believed they were suffering from work related stress at a level that was making them ill.

Additionally, in the Health and Safety Executive (HSE)'s 1996 Mental Health and Stress in the Workplace: a Guide for Employers report, it is estimated that 180 million working days were lost every year in the UK due to stress related absence. This costs employers nearly four billion pounds a year.                                                                                                                                                                                        
All employers in the UK have duties under the Health and Safety Laws to take measures to control and minimise work-related stress.  The Disability Discrimination Act also states that employers have a duty of care to their employees.  To dismiss an employee because they have work-related stress could be treated as unfair dismissal.