Doctor says stress accounts for two-thirds of illnesses

Stress is linked to two-thirds of illnesses, according to Georg Weidinger, a general practitioner and traditional Chinese medicine doctor from Bad Sauerbrunn, ORF reported as part of its “Bewusst Gesund” focus on how stress affects health.

Stress is a vital bodily response to immediate danger, Weidinger said. It raises blood pressure and suppresses the immune system to help a person fight or flee, but the body needs time to recover afterwards. The problem, he said, is that many people experience stress continuously.

Weidinger advises patients to consider whether all their commitments are necessary, including work, exercise and efforts to eat healthily. People can also pass their stress habits on to their children, he said.

To reduce stress, he recommends movement, yoga and other relaxing activities, as well as doing less during the day. Good sleep habits are also important: avoiding screens in the evening, listening to audiobooks, playing a board game with family or spending time in nature can help people unwind.

If stress levels are already high, Weidinger suggests lying down briefly and closing the eyes. He said workplaces should provide a sofa or quiet room where employees can rest before returning to work.