Stress at work is just as bad as secondhand smoke

By Elizabeth Cohen, Senior Medical Correspondent

Updated 0227 GMT (1027 HKT) September 4, 2015

Think you're being super efficient by tackling four tasks at once? Chances are you're not -- and it's only decreasing your productivity while increasing your stress.

Photos: Surprising reasons for stress

Multitasking – Think you're being super efficient by tackling four tasks at once? Chances are you're not -- and it's only decreasing your productivity while increasing your stress.

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Photos: Surprising reasons for stress

Reacting to stress – Even reacting to stress by eating junk food or skipping your workouts can actually make your stress worse.

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Even if you have a blissfully happy relationship with your live-in partner or spouse, you're both bound to do things that get on each other's nerves.

Photos: Surprising reasons for stress

Your significant other – Even if you have a blissfully happy relationship with your live-in partner or spouse, you're both bound to do things that get on each other's nerves.

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We're told not to sweat the small stuff, but sometimes it's the little things that have the biggest impact on our mood, like the 20 minutes you lose looking for a parking space.

Photos: Surprising reasons for stress

Everyday annoyances – We're told not to sweat the small stuff, but sometimes it's the little things that have the biggest impact on our mood, like the 20 minutes you lose looking for a parking space.

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Stress can be contagious. You can also experience stress when someone you know is affected by a traumatic event, like a car crash or a chronic illness.

Photos: Surprising reasons for stress

Other people's stress – Stress can be contagious. You can also experience stress when someone you know is affected by a traumatic event, like a car crash or a chronic illness.

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