One of the largest-ever surveys of its kind, conducted by Harris Research looked at levels of stress among 5,000 office workers in 16 countries. The findings showed that over 54 per cent of office workers around the world believe that work is the main cause of stress in their lives - ahead of money worries (29 per cent) and family and domestic relationships or personal/family ill-health or bereavement (20 per cent).

The main cause of stress was overwork. 50 per cent of respondents worldwide claimed to be either too busy or having too few staffers. This phenomenon was seen to be more prevalent in large companies. Other reasons for work-related stress are 29 per cent of workers worldwide lack confidence in their company’s management, 32 per cent felt unappreciated at work and perceiving office environment and physical working conditions not up to the mark.

In order to cope with stress at work, people showed a clear preference for indulging in ‘products of enjoyment’. 68 per cent mentioned taking a tea or coffee break, 50 per cent having a soft drink, 27 per cent smoking, 27 per cent eating cakes, biscuits or savoury snacks, 16 per cent eating ice cream and five per cent going for a drink of alcohol at lunch time. However, the human factor scored the highest with 81 per cent preferring to talk or joke with colleagues as a way of unwinding at work.

If you think you are in lousy shape, here’s something you could just consider. It’s as simple as going for a walk, only better. It’s hiking. Health experts say hiking is said to be an ideal spring and summer fitness strategy because it’s usually nice and cool on the trails and in the mountains. It could be more fun than a walk around the neighbourhood, simply because you would be surrounded by trees, blue sky and birds. Also, with a little research, you can find a trail that suits your fitness level. You can start by joining a hiking club. And as you get better, you can go with a friend or two, or by yourself. According to fitnes experts, hiking is recommended for 30 to 60 minutes a day, three to four times a week. To start with, the route should be flat surfaced, gradually going on to the hills. If you join a hiking club, find out how members rate their hikes. Easy hikes are usually slow on flat terrain and include lots of stops. Moderate hikes might include rocky trails, have fewer stops and be a little longer. Advanced hikes move quickly with lots of climbing and no stopping. If you’re a beginner, hit the local sporting goods store before you head out and get a good pair of waterproof hiking boots and a backpack. And finally, when you decide to go out for a hike, don’t forget to carry water, easily digestible snacks, bug and tick repellent, sunglasses, sunscreen and a flashlight.

If you suffer from kidney stones, you probably have been advised to avoid calcium like the plague. Turns out, that might be bad advice. A study of 45,000 men conducted by the Harvard School of Public Health, found that men who get lots of calcium in their diets have a one-third lower risk of developing kidney stones than those who consume calcium sparingly. One possible reason is that calcium blocks the action of a chemical implicated in stone formation.

Have there been times that you complained of indigestion, but your friend said that it could be angina? How do you tell the difference? Angina is characterised by crushing pains that are generally felt behind the breastbone, the left side of the chest or one or both arms. It can also be felt going up into the jaw and throat and less commonly, between the shoulder blades.

If you thought you were too young to get angina, new statistics from the British Heart Foundation reveal that out of the 3,30,000 new cases diagnosed in the UK every year, nearly half are women, aged 25 to 34. It is usually caused by narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to the heart, a condition known as coronary atherosclerosis, which reduces the blood flow to the heart muscle. It’s thought to be linked to increased smoking among the young, obesity, high cholesterol and sedentary lifestyles.

Other risk factors include a family history of the problem, diabetes and high blood pressure. But does it mean a heart attack is just around the corner? Well, not always, although it is certainly a sign that you need to reduce the risk of one happening. It’s essential to cut down on saturated fat, and to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables, cereals and pulses. Stop smoking, lose weight and exercise more. Even 20-30 minutes of walking a day will make a difference. Make sure that any existing conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure are controlled by your doctor and always follow his or her advice.