Feeling the pressure at school and on the field

The fast-paced society of today, teenagers now more than ever feel the pressure to excel in both school and sports. Usually, it brings on quite a bit of stress which can be a problem for athletics.

“It is a proven fact that if you are tired on the field, you are then more likely to get an injury,” physical education teacher Kevin Boss said.
Stress negatively affects students’ performances in the competitive sports they play.
The ways people handle their lives between school and sports varies from person to person.
“You just have to keep a good schedule and set times to do certain things,” sophomore Jacob Payne said. “Plus, sports are exercise, so it’s a stress relief; I think I handle it pretty well.”
Teamwork is a key element in combating the trials of stress according to senior Carlo Paraggio.
“I usually talk to my friends about my problems, and we help each other figure things out,” Paraggio said.
It is always a tough decision on students between school and sports, but in the end most people choose school just like junior Rachel Wehlburg.

“In my mind, school comes first because good grades get you into college,” Wehlburg said, “then you can play your sport on your college team.”

Info-Box

Over time, stress can affect your:
• Immune system. Constant stress can make you more likely to get sick more often. And if you have a chronic illness such as AIDS, stress can make your symptoms worse.
• Heart. Stress is linked to high blood pressure, abnormal heartbeat (arrhythmia), blood clots and hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). It is also linked to coronary artery disease, heart attack and heart failure.
• Muscles. Constant tension from stress can lead to neck, shoulder and lower back pain. Stress may make rheumatoid arthritis worse.

Stomach. If you are suffering from stomach problems, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis, stress can make your symptoms worse.
• Reproductive organs. Stress is linked to low fertility, erection problems, problems during pregnancy and painful menstrual periods.
• Lungs. Stress can make symptoms of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) worse.
Skin. Skin problems such as acne and psoriasis are made worse by stress.

Source: Webmd.com-Stress Management Health Center

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