How high does your blood pressure rise on a typical workday? If it stays low and even, you’re living life like it’s golden. For many people, career demands are a primary source of stress, and doctors have been telling us for decades about what it can do to our health. Stress can raise your blood pressure. It can cause headaches and contribute to anxiety, depression and digestive problems. Stress can even wreak havoc on your appearance, slowly making you look as bad as you feel
Of course, every line of work is unique, and some jobs are more stressful than others. This year, Forbes released a list of the most stressful jobs out there. Here’s their list of the top 10 stress-inducing careers:
The Most Stressful Careers in 2013
1.Enlisted military personnel
2. Military general
3. Firefighter
4. Commercial airline pilot
5. Public relations executive
6. Senior corporate executive
7. Photojournalist
8. Newspaper reporter
9. Taxi driver
10. Police officer
While ladies who work in these high-pressure fields can be just as gorgeous as anyone else, people whose jobs are very demanding should take extra precautions to preserve their natural beauty. That’s because high stress levels can bring on the following side effects:
- Weight gain
- Adult acne
- Rapid wrinkling
- Hair loss
- Tooth and gum diseases
- Dry skin
- Brittle hair and nails
- Puffy eyes
These less-than-sexy side effects can result from a compromised immune system, a lack of quality rest (they call it “beauty sleep” for a reason, you know) and increased production of cortisol, which is often called “the stress hormone.” Cortisol signals the body to store more fat cells in the midsection. It can also make your skin produce more sebum, an oil secreted by the sebaceous glands. Basically what that means is that you can expect breakouts and some extra weight when you’re stressed for prolonged periods of time.
So what’s a career-minded woman to do? You can fight back against the effects of stress by practicing meditation and yoga. You can eat a balanced diet and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. But most importantly, you can teach yourself how to relax, and the skilled estheticians at Burke Williams will show you how. A massage or a spa bath is the perfect treat at the end of your work week, and when you’ve got something special to look forward to, getting through those stressful periods doesn’t seem as difficult.
Our suggestion? Unwind and indulge by booking a full spa day for you and your favorite coworkers. Relaxation is the key to stress management, and when you make it a part of your daily routine, you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel and how much more effective you are on the job. Just remember to stop into Burke Williams to tell us all about your new promotion!
