Read the passage carefully.

In English, there is a famous expression: “Stop the world, I want to get off!” This expression refers to a feeling of panic, or stress, that makes a person want to stop whatever they are doing, try to relax, and become calm again. ‘Stress’ means pressure or tension. It is one of the most common causes of health problems in modern life. Too much stress results in physical, emotional, and mental health problems.

There are numerous physical effects of stress. Stress can affect the heart. It can increase the pulse rate, make the heart miss beats, and cause high blood pressure. Stress can affect the respiratory system and lead to asthma. It can cause a person to breathe too fast, resulting in a loss of important carbon dioxide. Stress can also affect the stomach. It can cause stomach aches and problems digesting food. These are only a few examples of the wide range of illnesses and symptoms resulting from stress.

Emotions are also easily affected by stress. People suffering from stress often feel anxious. They may have panic attacks or feel tired all the time. When people are under stress, they often overreact to minor problems. For example, a normally gentle parent under a lot of stress at work may yell at a child for dropping a glass of juice. Stress can make people angry, moody, or nervous.

Long­term stress can lead to a variety of severe mental illnesses. Depression, an extreme feeling of sadness and hopelessness, can result from continued and increasing stress. Alcoholism and other addictions often develop due to overuse of alcohol or drugs to try to relieve stress. Eating disorders, such as anorexia, are sometimes caused by stress and are often made worse by stress. If stress is allowed to continue, then one’s mental health is put at risk.

It is evident that stress is a serious problem. It attacks the body and affects emotions. Untreated, it may eventually result in mental illness. Stress has a significant influence on the health and well­being of our bodies, our feelings, and our minds. So, reduce stress and stop the world and rest for a while.