Known for his hectic schedule - 20 hours a day for 20 years, according to a source - former US president Bill Clinton was recently hospitalised for routine stent surgery and doctors say stress may have triggered his chest pains.

Dr Judy Jaye, executive leadership manager of The Voice Clinic, and one of South Africa's most prominent stress experts, says although stress cannot be avoided or resisted, it can be managed.

"When you're under stress, your body floods with adrenalin to help you cope," she says. "Once the emergency or stressful time is over, it's important that your body's relaxation response is activated so that everything can return to normal."

Unfortunately, she points out we live with such high levels of stress, this often doesn't happen, resulting in a state of chronic stress with too much cortisol - the stress hormone - floating around in the body.

"Over time, this erodes your immune system, which is why people often succumb to illness after ongoing stressful events," she says.

"Research shows stress plays a role in triggering or worsening depression, cancer and cardiovascular disease and as many as 90 percent of visits to the doctor can be attributed to stress-related ailments," says Jaye. "When left unchecked, stress can result in a debilitating disorder."

Job stress comes in different forms and can affect you in many different ways.

"Because stress is unavoidable, it is important to find ways to reduce and prevent stressful incidents and decrease your negative reactions to it," says Jaye.

"It is important toidentify your coping strategies. One way to do this is by recording the stressful event, your reaction and how you coped. With this information, you can work to change unhealthy coping strategies into healthy ones, that is, those that help you focus on the positive and what you can change or control in your life."

Dealing with your negative thoughts and how you see things can help reduce stress.

"Those who are struggling to control their stress levels should consider taking a professional programme in stress management skills which will give them the tools to reach their personal and career goals," says Jaye.