HEALTH NOTE

the next journey for me, really.”

The endocrine issues she’s referring to are linked to the pituitary gland tumour she was diagnosed with in 2015. Although non-cancerous, the tumour wreaked havoc with her hormones, which she’s previously said caused “epic destruction” to her life.

“Unmedicated, it caused huge levels of anxiety and all sorts of problems that were not much fun – but I’m medicated now and it’s under control,” she says.

“When I was ill and having a lot of stress, and I wasn’t going outside and the rest of it, having constant panic attacks, I learned a lot and looked at all stresses,” she reflects. “Stress is a natural response – some stress is biologically imperative, we need a bit of stress to keep us alert.

“For me, it’s about what I’ve learned about dealing with stress, where it’s unhelpful and unwanted, when it feels too much, or when I’ve been too much – we need to be aware of when we might be causing stress too, by being too inflexible or whatever.”

We’re all different. It’s about recognising “your own stress barometer. Set your own limit”, says Sue. “Decide what’s motivating and exciting stress-wise, and what’s debilitating and exhausting.

“It’s impossible to eliminate all stress, but you can certainly eliminate some.”

Sue Perkins is working with Specsavers on its State of the UK’s Eye Health Report 2021. Visit specsavers.co.uk

Studies have found that people in more polluted areas are more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety. Pollution has also been linked to dementia.

Now a new study by King’s College London has found airborne pollution may exacerbate mental health disorders. Data on 13,800 patients who attended mental health services in South London between 2008 and 2012 was compared with the levels of pollution around their home addresses.

The results showed that a relatively small increase in levels of nitrogen dioxide (of 15 micrograms) was linked to an 18% increase in the risk of being admitted to hospital in a year. Higher levels of small particle pollution were associated with an 11% risk.