New research finds Australian women are feeling stressed

New research finds Australian women are feeling stressed – and most are ignoring it, despite the negative health implications

Priceline Pharmacy launches new stress test feature on in-store health stations September 2020: New research commissioned by Priceline Pharmacy1 has revealed that 95% of Australian women experience stress, and 20% experience it multiple times a day.

However, 59% of women have never consulted a health professional in relation to stress management, and 15% don’t even know who to ask for help.

For many, stress and feeling under pressure has become a regular and expected part of life. But ignoring the problem or making it part of your ‘normal’ is potentially damaging to both short and long-term health. Reacting to stress in unhealthy ways can increase your risk of high blood pressure – the leading cause globally of death and disability.

Priceline Pharmacist Jeyda Shiaxiates says it is no surprise that such a large percentage of women are feeling the pressure of life, but the lack of knowledge around its health impact is concerning.

“The research found that most women recognise that stress has an impact on health, but only half knew that stress reduces your body’s immune response, and only 47% were aware that stress impacts heart health. With heart disease the second highest cause of death amongst Australian
women, this is a concern.

Stress triggers are different for everyone so it’s important to recognise what your personal triggers are and how you can keep these under control. Speaking to a health professional about your triggers, management strategies and monitoring programs is a great first step. We all need to stop seeing stress as normal and encourage more people to feel comfortable speaking with their doctor or pharmacist about how best to manage what is a very common and potentially dangerous health issue,” said Jeyda.

During September, Priceline Pharmacy health stations now include a medically reviewed stress test to help better manage and monitor stress. Conveniently located on the pharmacy floor, the health station allows anyone to check and monitor their vitals when it suits – no appointment necessary, no waiting, no putting it off.

General Practitioner and new Priceline Pharmacy Health Expert Dr Preeya Alexander says that far too often her patients don’t fully understand the impact that stress can have on their body; the key is monitoring triggers for stress and keeping stress, if possible, at manageable levels:

“Severe persistent stress can take a toll on your body and brain over time. Stress can contribute to several health issues such as migraines, insomnia, high blood pressure, anxiety and depression. Stress can also negatively impact the immune system. The goal of stress management is not to necessarily get rid of it completely, but rather to manage it. Along with simple lifestyle changes (such as maintaining a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake) speaking to a health professional like a Pharmacist or GP can definitely help,” she says.

In addition to the research, Priceline Pharmacy followed a focus group of women to gauge their stress levels during a typical week. The results aligned with our research and showed that even seemingly ‘normal’, everyday activities resulted in the participants’ stress levels surging.

Key findings from the Priceline Under Pressure research revealed:

• Young mums feeling it most: mothers with young children are more likely to feel stressed or under pressure compared to those with adult children

• Work is a big trigger: Nearly 9 in 10 working women in Australia, approximately 4.4 million working individuals, have at least one work life stressor. The most common work life stressor is workload (40%), followed by balancing work and home (35%) and job insecurity (31%)

• Currently women in Victoria report feeling stressed or under pressure most frequently with 78% of respondents reporting they feel stress at least once a week.

• Symptoms of stress in most: Nearly half of women (49%) report suffering from aches and pains, followed by 48% who say they suffer from sleep problems, and 40% who suffer from weight problems

• Stress management is not a priority: 21% of women say that managing their stress levels is less important compared to their other priorities

Priceline Pharmacists are here to help and talk to you about any health concerns. Find your closest Priceline Pharmacy here https://www.priceline.com.au/store-locator in order to access the Stress test on one of Priceline’s Health Stations.

Data & Research
1. Research by YouGov, commissioned by Priceline Pharmacy, 2020
The sample comprised a nationally representative sample 1,000 Australian women aged 18+ years and older
2. Mayo Clinic, Hypertension, 2020

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay