What Every Man Should Know About Stress & Burnout
The Hindu
Learn about the physical and emotional toll of burnout, chronic stress, and the impact on men's health in India.
Burnout is more than just tiredness — it’s physical and emotional collapse from prolonged stress, often linked to work, responsibilities, or emotional strain. A 2024 FICCI-BCG report states 58% of Indians experience burnout and workplace exhaustion, much higher than the global average of 48%. For men, who are often less likely to talk about mental fatigue, burnout often goes unnoticed until real damage is done.
Stress triggers the release of cortisol and adrenaline — hormones that generally prepare the body for a “fight or flight” response. But when stress is constant, the body stays in survival mode.
Chronically high cortisol levels suppress white blood cells, which weakens immunity, increases the risk of infections, and slows recovery. Stress also disrupts inflammation control, increasing the risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and heart disease.
According to the Apollo Health of the Nation 2025 report, in the 40-55 age group, 31% of men are hypertensive, 28% are diabetic and 73% are overweight/obese (based on 4.5 lakh health checks). Chronic stress is one of the key drivers of these NCDs, along with inactivity, smoking, alcohol and poor sleep.
The gut takes a hit too. Stress increases acidity, slows digestion, and alters gut bacteria — leading to bloating, indigestion, and ulcers.
The brain too is particularly vulnerable to long-term stress. Cortisol impairs the hippocampus (linked to memory) and prefrontal cortex (which governs focus and judgement). The result: forgetfulness, poor decision-making, and mental fatigue.
One clinical sign of stress is poor sleep. According to Health of the Nation report, 28% (age 40-55) and 68% (>55) of men were at high risk for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea (OSA), a condition strongly linked to stress, weight gain and poor sleep. OSA worsens mood, productivity, and heart health.
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