The word "worry" comes from an old Anglo-Saxon verb "wyrgan" meaning to choke or strangle. Worry is a weed that can spread and strangle the heart.

A recent study suggests worriers have a higher risk of heart disease than those who choose not to worry so much. Anxiety interferes with effectiveness.

"Worry never robs tomorrow of its sorrow, it only saps today of its joy," observed renowned lecturer and writer Leo Buscaglia.

Some use worry as a "defensive pessimism," which allows you to imagine everything that might go wrong, and prepare for it, Others use worry as a magic shield--if you worry about something, it won't happen.

But face it, when we worry, we make problems stronger than what they are. Worry drains energy... reduces confidence, and heightens fears. Worry causes high blood pressure, anxiety, gastrointestinal problems, headaches, and more.

"A day of worry," said British archaeologist Sir John Lubbock, "is more exhausting than a week of work."

Worry diminishes the spirit...and makes problems seem larger than they really are. Give your mind and body a rest. Relax. Fix what you can, then disengage. Studies show that by distracting yourself from a worry for just 10 minutes can break a worry obsession.

To quote Edison, again: "I have always found when I was worrying, that the best thing to do was put my mind upon something, work hard and forget what was troubling me."

Why worry?