Time away from work 'is vital'

British workers should ensure they take time out during the working day in order to combat stress.

This is according to a spokesperson for the International Stress Management Association (ISMA), who made the comments after a recent report found that workers may not be coping with stress in the best manner.

A report released by The Stroke Association showed that 73 per cent of the British workforce regularly feels stress as a result of work.

However, people were found to be turning to alcohol, smoking and comfort eating in a bid to combat it.

Meanwhile, human resources firm Chiumento recently found that only 16 per cent of employees regularly take a full hour's lunch break.

The unnamed ISMA spokesperson said: "Time out is vital to refresh the body and mind. If a lunch hour is not possible then short breaks regularly can be effective. A quick walk around the area you work in - away from the current task - is also useful."

She also advocated practising deep abdominal breathing at times of pressure, in order to combat stress by reducing the flow of adrenaline.

According to the Health and Safety Executive, work-related stress resulted in the loss of 13.8 million working days in 2006 to 2007, accounting for over a third of all new incidences of ill health.