Changes in the workplace are increasing tension and stress for many employees, which can lead to health problems.

Stress in the workplace is epidemic -- workers at every level are experiencing increased tension and uncertainty, brought on by economic upheavals, downsizing, layoffs, mergers and bankruptcies - and it is affecting their health. Sandra Vicari, an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral health counselor at SIU School of Medicine in Springfield, says that absenteeism in the U.S., caused by stress totals 80 million days a year. She explains some of the symptoms of stress:

SOUND BITE: "Early warning signs are headaches, insomnia, appetite loss or appetite change, sleep you know besides the insomnia, would be sleep getting up in the middle of the night or getting up early and not being able to go back to sleep. When you start feeling the low morale, frustration, don't feel like getting up and doing anything any more, concentration also lowers - you have difficulty concentrating.

Vicari says stress lowers the immune system, so being stressed for a long period of time can lead to colds, heart disease, strokes, and other health problems. Techniques that can help decrease stress include focusing on the one problem at hand rather than thinking of all the things that need to be done during the day. Also, people can do deep breathing, yoga and stretching exercises and listen to music to help them relax and relieve their stress levels. Vicari explains the importance of taking a rest.

SOUND BITE: "Our bodies are made so that every 90 minutes we need to take a rest period because hormones, the body's hormones, glucose and blood pressure levels naturally drop every 90 minutes. And so if we would take a 10- minute break, then we would be able to function better."

To learn more about how to deal with workplace stress, contact your primary care physician or mental health counselor.