Take this Stress Check Quiz to See if You Need to Step Back and Relax

April, 2011 - April is National Stress Awareness Month and the expert physicians within the BodyLogicMD network want you to take a step back to see how much stress may be affecting your life. It's an important health issue - stress causes the body to release the hormone cortisol, which, in high levels, can have many negative effects on your health, from reducing your ability to fight off infections to increasing your risk of developing many chronic conditions - even cancer.

So how stressed are you? Here are 10 questions to help you determine if you have too much stress in your life:

• Do you grind your teeth?
• Are you tired throughout the day, even when you've gotten plenty of sleep?
• Are you finding that you're having a hard time sleeping at night?
• Are you only eating only one to two meals per day?
• Have you gained a few pounds?
• Do thoughts of daily duties or problems interfere with your relaxation time?
• Do you lay awake at night thinking about everything you have to do the next day?
• Does waiting in traffic or shopping lines make you feel irritated or frustrated?
• Do you find yourself snapping at people even when they haven't done anything wrong?
• Do you feel close to tears when other people criticize you or your work?

If you answered "Yes" to five or more of these questions, it's time to do something about your stress levels. It's okay to say "No" to some of the constant demands in your life. Put yourself first! Eat right, exercise, get the sleep you need every night and pick out some relaxation techniques to help you keep your calm. You might find that you really enjoy yoga or meditation, or you could do something as simple as taking a few slow, deep breaths to take the edge off.