Despite being a major problem affecting many more people than perhaps we realise, stress is often not taken as seriously as it should be. A mug bearing a cartoon of a wild-eyed character tearing his hair out above the word 'stressed' may make an amusing gift to a colleague, but if the recipient is genuinely suffering from stress then it is anything but a laughing matter.

Stress is so prevalent in our lives that in 1999, meditation teacher Paul Wilson released The Little Book of Calm, a pocket-sized source of stress relief in the form of words of wisdom and practical tips. The book served as an illustration as to the stressful world we live in by selling over three million copies, as people sought to de-stress parents, siblings, sons and daughters for the grand price of £1.99. Prevention is always better than cure, however, so we should be on the lookout for the early signs of stress and what can be done if you find yourself experiencing them.

The current economic climate has exacerbated the worry levels of the nation's workforce as uncertainty about the future, money troubles and the threat of redundancy prey on the mind. Taking these worries into the workplace, where the pressure of doing a job to the meticulous standards expected, can result in the onset of stress, so what are the warning signs?.

A vitally important factor in recognising the early stages of stress is to read the signals that are being sent out by the body. There are some tell tale signs that we associate with stress, such as nail biting, sweaty palms, teeth grinding and hair loss, (men and women), but in reality the onset of stress may not manifest itself with such obvious symptoms. Some of the first signs that you may be suffering from stress are tiredness and irritability, a feeling of lethargy and an inability to concentrate on the task in hand. Extreme dietary changes can also occur in the early stages of stress, but this could go one of two ways; some people will overeat, while others will not able to face food. Difficulty in getting to sleep and broken sleep patterns can also be an indication that worrying issues are preying on the mind

It will probably come as no surprise to learn that the usual good guys of a healthy diet, plenty of sleep, regular exercise, drinking alcohol in moderation and not smoking can all help to stave off stress. These factors should be taken note of as research has shown that up to 90% of illnesses are either caused or made worse by stress. Old proverbs and sayings that have survived for centuries have done so for the simple reason that they ring true, and "a problem shared is a problem halved" is certainly one of them. Telling someone that you think you may be suffering from stress is a positive start, because if you do feel stressed then the worst thing you can do is to bottle it up in the hope that it will go away: it won't. Talking to someone about the problem can be, in many cases, the first step on the road to recovery. Doing nothing could be the first step on the road to Hell