Now even low-level stress is linked to serious health issues

LOW-LEVEL stress should be avoided because it can raise the risk of arthritis and heart disease, researchers warn.

Mild distress affects many people, causing problems with sleeping, a feeling of being under strain or a loss of confidence. Now researchers have found these problems, which fall well short of depression, may affect health too.

This low-level stress is linked to a 57 per cent higher risk of arthritis and 46 per cent greater danger of cardiovascular problems, according to a study of more than 16,000 people by the universities of Edinburgh and Southampton.

That may be because distress floods the body with stress hormones, which cause inflammation and can raise blood pressure and cholesterol over time.

Professor Catharine Gale, who led the study, said: ‘There has been a significant gap in knowledge regarding the link between lower and moderate levels of distress and the development of chronic conditions.’

She added: ‘Our findings show that even low levels of distress – below the level usually considered clinically significant – appear to increase the risk of developing a chronic disease.’