Written by Vaania Bhagat, a grade 9 student.

‘Health is wealth’, a phrase I believe all of us are familiar with. My mother repeats this phrase several times while expressing how grateful we should be for the wonderful life that we have been gifted.

Although we all often use it blindly, I wonder how many of us actually believe in it…

These days, people live at a frantic pace and in a nearly constant state of competition. No matter how much we try to deny it or run away from it; competitiveness is a part of all of us. At this fever pitch, stress is natural.

I would like to emphasize the word ‘stress’ here as nowadays, this word is used as a synonym for even the slightest of problems.

Stress isn’t the cure for our problems, it is a colossal issue in itself.

In the present times, the slightest of issues trigger stress in us. Not realizing the impact of stress, we continue to deepen our thinking upon the negative aspects of everything. The American Institute of Stress investigated this degenerative process and concluded that most health problems are caused by stress.

Here’s an example of how stress can be extremely problematic:

Researchers at the Heidelberg University Hospital – one of the largest medical centers in Germany – conducted a study in which they subjected a young doctor at his job interview and put him under immense stress by telling him to solve more and more complex math problems for about 30 minutes. Afterward, they collected his blood sample and found out that antibodies in his body had reacted to stress the same way they would’ve reacted to pathogens. Hence activating proteins that trigger an immune response. This response not only neutralizes the condition but also kills the essential cells of the body.

Therefore, the more you stress; the lower your life expectancy rates.

We are caught up in a world where stress has no escape. With deadlines, pressure and so much more; stress is natural. Reading a few interviews of supercentenarians and centenarians, I realized that life isn’t just about earning money and endless competition for building a better future, sometimes we need to stay in the present and learn to seize the day.

However, it has scientifically been proven that a little stress won’t do us any damage. And that people who try to avoid small setbacks and stresses, often find a void in their lives. They have no choice, but to turn to drugs and intoxicating drinks to fill the vacuum.

Therefore, stopping stress/ no stress also decreases longevity.

We must learn to control stress and not suppress them. Let’s build a better, happy, and healthy future, befriending a little stress, and defeating major stress! We can and we will.

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