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The slow killer takes its toll

With high-income and jet-setting lifestyles come unavoidably high stress levels

CHALLENGING High-octane stress has become the order of the day

Is it a case of a pot of gold found at the end of a rainbow? A challenging job, a fat salary, a salubrious climate and a vibrant nightlife. On the one hand, the jetsetters have more money to spend and on the other, they have jobs that tie them to the desk most of the time.

Everything suddenly turns upside down. Reason? Work too hard and end up scarred. "Perform or perish is taking a heavy toll on the lives of young executives," says Tulika Bose, a call centre executive.

Is work pressure a small price to pay for the high-income, jet-setting lifestyles that young executives lead? High-octane stress and high-strung tension have become the order of the day in their lives.

Krish Goswami, a software engineer, was only 26 when he landed in the operation theatre of a cardiac institute. A techie, Arun Nayar, collapsed while working out on a treadmill. Long working hours have been the bane of Vishwas, an executive at an MNC. Successful males on the wrong side of 50? Juggling domestic and professional responsibilities add to the stress.

"It is a burnout syndrome hitting young corporates with work schedules taking a heavy toll in this pressure age. And it has the potential to blow in their face if they fail to modify their lives," warns Dr. Avinash Dal, a cardiac surgeon.

With deadlines and targets to meet, it is increasingly getting difficult to cope with stress. Emphasising that stress gradually affects the skill of a person, Dr. Dal says there is always a fear in the executives that if they refuse to take on responsibilities, there will be others ready to hop into their shoes. "They commit themselves to work which they can't handle in the end," he says.

Stress not only results in frequents bouts of headaches and insomnia but it also causes excessive production of acids in the stomach leading to lesions and ulcers. It also leads to high pulse rate and heart pounding which may prove fatal. Chronic stress manifests itself in sleep disorders which is disturbing, says a fitness expert.

Is stress a disease? "No. It's a state of mind. Stress-related disorders are the result of cut-throat competition," says a psychologist. Meditation, yoga, exercises, positive thinking, taking time off from work, etc., help one cope with stress. "I make it a point to listen to music early in the morning. It not only relaxes me but also makes me feel energetic," says Kranti, a content writer. As the young executives dig into new shades of grey, the colours of the rainbow diffuse. But the flipside of high expectations is something the young corporate junta has to live with in this hi-tech age.

G. ARUN KUMAR

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