A behavioural scientist at the College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Dr. Mosumola Tunde-Ayinmode, has alerted on the consequences of living a stressful life, noting that only a healthy lifestyle is the most potent weapon for managing stress.

Tunde-Ayinmode, who is also a consultant with the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, gave the advice in a lecture on: "Stress and ageing" during the sixth Health Education Seminar organised by the University of Ilorin Board of Health.

The consultant identified the two types of stresses as "normal" and "abnormal". She described normal stress as tension that propels an individual to achieve the desired goal without leaving a negative effect while abnormal stress is an undesirable kind of tension capable of affecting the body and mind negatively, thereby putting the individual at risk.

According to her, abnormal stress is that chronic stress that can lead to health disorders such as hypertension and ulcer and psychological problems like anxiety, anger, apathy, depression, cognitive impairment, sleep deprivation, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual dysfunctions, and even suicide.

While educating her audience on the social impact of abnormal stress, which she said could jeopardize interpersonal relations, Tunde-Ayinmode advised individuals to adopt a natural approach to coping with stress rather than using medications.

The lecturer listed anger, jealousy, pride, conceit, the fear of people as inner attitudes, which could prevent the successful management of stress.

She submitted that the adoption of a healthy lifestyle through regular exercise, healthy diet, avoiding alcohol and cigarettes, living within the budget, changing reactions to stress and making time for fun and leisure are ways of combating abnormal stress.

"Don't try to control the uncontrollable; look at stress as opportunities for personal growth. Share your feelings by talking to a trusted friend or make an appointment with a therapist. Free yourself from negative energy by forgiving and moving on," she counselled.

Tunde-Ayinmode declared that ageing is inevitable as long as there is growth. She pointed out that although the rate at which people age differs from one person to another, ageing could be accompanied by chronic health problems such as hypertension, diabetes, osteoarthritis, heart problems that can also create stress for the aged. She listed the psychological effects of ageing to include depression, dementia, sexual issues, loneliness, anxiety and low energy.

While advising Nigerians to save money for old age because of imminent retirement, the lecturer cautioned the aged against the use of stairs and slippery tiles in the home.

In her comments at the event, the Registrar of the University, Mrs. Olufolake Oyeyemi, noted that stress is what we have to deal with everyday of our lives and that is why the university management deemed it wise to organise the monthly fitness walk for all the university staff in order to facilitate good health.