Accra, June 21, GNA - Mr Kenneth Dzirasah, NDC MP for South Tongu, on Tuesday advised Ghanaians to undertake regular exercises and seek the tranquillity of the natural environment to escape stress and other ailments. ''Stress and lifestyle diseases are gradually becoming the main source of mortality among Ghanaians''. He gave the advice when he made a statement on the newly commissioned Holy Trinity SPA and Health Farm at Sogakope. He said Health Farm is a special clinic that is concerned with problem of stress, pressure of work, fatigue, body shape, beauty, the desire to relax, over consumption of stimulants such as coffee and emotional problems. He said research has established that between 60 and 70 per cent of hospital visits are stress related.

"I am told that hypertension, migraine, back-aches, sleeplessness, pelvic ulcer, among other afflictions that we take to the hospitals are all stress related." Mr Dzirasah said the health centre utilises the serene, peace, tranquil and pleasant ambiance of the water river side to restore normality to people who by virtue of the nature of their work have live with stress or operate under pressure He said the centre has all the facilities to make it a world-class destination for patients and health tourists.

The MP said his association with the centre has given him an insight into a few interesting things in life. "The colour of our house, bedroom and office affects our mood. Two: to send to your bedroom your office work is the fastest way to build stress for yourself.'' He said that stress has tremendous effect on the quality sex life, marriage, relationship with children and our businesses.

"That the long office ours in artificial lightening is most unnatural and that natural light promotes a healthy sleep, cheerful mood and conversely that chronic lack of day lights and turning ourselves into bookworms in our offices can make us not only tired but also depressed, lethargic and even anti-social." Mr Dzirasah said he has also leaned that urban living with its associated noise, pollution, crowding, abuse of mobile phones, traffic jams and violence, create cumulative stress, which generally is one factor for shorter live-span in the urban areas as opposed to lives in the rural setting. Dr Felix Kwaku Anyah mans the centre. Ironically, the statement was made on the day Parliament outdoored its central lightening system in the Chamber.