Women most likely to suffer stress when young and anxiety when older

New data reveals that young women between the ages of 15 and 19 are most likely to suffer from stress and women above the age of 60 are frequent victims of anxiety.

According to bbc.co.uk, the report from the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), which was commissioned by the National Health Service (NHS), found that as Brits grow older, they're less likely to be stressed but more likely to experience anxiety.

Women are much more likely to be victims of anxiety, a long-term condition which means the sufferer cannot stop worrying. Three of every five hospital admissions for anxiety are for women, claims the report. Men on the other hand, are much more likely to end up in hospital for stress, as male patients make up more than half of admissions for stress. Those between the ages of 40 and 44 suffer from stress the most.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity SANE, supplies some reasons as to why so many older women are diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

"Many women tend to take the caring role and it is not surprising that when they reach their 60s the emotional burden of care can become intolerable," she says. "The majority of the carers who contact us are women, who may be responsible for partners facing illness, elderly parents or children."

She adds that women who suffer from such problems often don't look after themselves, either mentally or physically. Eventually, the situation overwhelms them, reports dailymail.co.uk.