STRESS BEATERS

Ever wondered which U.S. cities provide an environment that helps make life more relaxed and enjoyable? Know what cities have particularly stressful conditions?

The lists come from the Sperling Stress Index which measures nine different factors associated with stress: unemployment rate, divorce rate, commute time, violent and property crime rates, suicide rate, alcohol consumption, self-reported "poor mental health" and the number of cloudy days.

Warning signs that you are stressed out

It's important to identify the symptoms of stress, say mental health professionals, because if it persists you could be at risk for serious health problems. Research shows that 90 percent of illness is stress-related. Symptoms are:

• Upset or acid stomach, cramps, heartburn, gas, constipation and/or diarrhea
• Tension or migraine headaches
• Stiff and painful back, shoulder or neck
• Rapid breathing, sweaty palms or hands, irregular heartbeat, palpitations, high blood pressure

  Some highlights: Tacoma, Wash., had one of the nation's highest unemployment rates and one of the highest divorce rates. Las Vegas, Nev., had the highest percentage of divorced residents and the highest rate of suicides. Miami, Fla., had the highest violent crime rate, one of the highest property crime rates and one of the lowest rates in residents reporting poor mental health. New York, N.Y., had the longest commute time and some of the lowest suicide and divorce rates. The most stressful U.S. cities: Tacoma, Wash. Miami, Fla. New Orleans, La. Las Vegas, Nev. New York, N.Y. Portland, Ore./Vancouver, Wash. Mobile, Ala. Stockton-Lodi, Calif. Detroit, Mich. Dallas, Texas The least stressful U.S. cities: Albany/Schenectady/Troy, N.Y. Harrisburg/Lebanon/Carlisle, Penn. Orange County, Calif. Nassau-Suffolk, N.Y. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Ann Arbor, Mich. Omaha, Neb. Norfolk-Virginia Beach, Va. Honolulu, Hawaii Raleigh/Durham/Chapel Hill, N.C.

• Skin problems such as hives, eczema, psoriasis and itching
• Emotional numbness
• Feel helpless and out of control
• Worry too much about insignificant things
• Doubt your ability to do things
• Hard to concentrate or focus on tasks
• Know that whatever you do, things are bound to go wrong
• Can't stop thinking about your work - ever
• Feel jumpy or fatigued all the time
• Difficulty falling asleep and sleeping
• Irritable and intolerant of even minor disturbances
• Frequently lose your temper and yell at others for no reason
• Withdrawing from relationships
• Suffer from anxiety, depression and/or frequent mood swings

A few simple ways to Manage your stress

You can take some steps to prevent situations that lead to frustration or add to your stress level.

• Take the time to get organized. A hectic pace can feel even more frenzied when you have to spend time shuffling through a stack of papers to find the exact information you need.
• Prioritize. When faced with an overwhelming amount of tasks that need to get done, determine which are most important and tackle them first.
• Take small steps. Focus on one or two tasks you need to get done to reach your goal, rather than throw your hands up at the impossible job ahead.
• Be sure you have all the information you need. Unexpected events will always come up and throw you off balance. You'll be able to handle those situations if you know what to expect otherwise.
• Take a break. Take a deep breath. Allow yourself a moment of peace before diving back into work.