Practice Management Unit
Temitope Fadare
Introduction
Generally, stress is a feeling of emotional or physical
tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes an
individual feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress is your
body's reaction to a challenge or demand. In short bursts,
stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid danger or
meet a deadline. Medline Plus (2021) noted that stress is caused by
an existing stress-causing fact or “stressor”. There
are two main types of stress – acute
stress and chronic stress; and when stress
lasts for a long time, it may harm the health of the
individual.2
As stated already, small amounts of stress may be beneficial, as
it can improve athletic performance, motivation, and
reaction to the environment. It should be noted that xcessive
amounts of stress can increase the risk of strokes, heart
attacks, ulcers, and mental illnesses such as
depression and aggravation of a pre-existing health
