Scientists have found the most stressful time of the day down to the minute

Commuting to work and getting children to school is the most stressful time of day, according to a new poll.

The answers of 2,000 adults in the UK were averaged out and results suggested that 7.23am was the most stressful time of their day.

They were also asked to rank the top 50 most stressful events in a typical day. Being stuck in traffic, spilling something on the carpet, and waking up late were among the top five.

The poll found that adults face about three stressful events every day. They occur about an hour earlier in women than men. 

It comes after a study warned last month that being stressed, nervous, or exhausted in middle age may increase the risk of dementia.

Scroll down to see the top 50 most stressful daily events 

The latest research was commissioned by UK-based company Rescue Remedy, which sells tablets, creams, and liquids that claim to help ease stress.

Zuzana Bustikova, head of global brands at Rescue Remedy-owner Nelsons, said: ‘Often when we think “drama” we think big, but the research shows how much of an impact seemingly small niggles can have on our daily moods.

‘We know that a poor night’s sleep can offset the whole day, and challenging days can often result in sleepless nights.

‘So, it’s no wonder that mornings are when the first drama is experienced.’

The survey found that the top causes of daily stresses included tiredness – 46 percent of participants said this was the case – an interrupted night’s sleep (36 percent) and a busy day at work (33 percent). 

The stressful events people faced were most likely to leave them frustrated (32 percent), anxious (23 percent), or tired (21 percent).

Adults also said they typically have five things on their mind at one time, while 16 percent said they likely faced more stressful events during the day than others.

About 33 percent of Americans say they are stressed every day, according to estimates, while in the UK one in 14 adults feels stressed daily.

Experts warn that when we are chronically stressed it activates the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response.

This sparks a rise in adrenaline, which raises the heart rate and blood pressure. More cortisol can also be released which raises the amount of sugar in the bloodstream.

In the wild, this evolved to keep someone alert until a perceived threat had passed — such as a predator — before hormone levels return to normal.

But in the modern world, this system can be set to be constantly on, posing a number of health risks to the body.

Previous research has shown that chronic stress can lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and a weakened immune system.

ENDS