The paper summarizes some non-specific stress factors of work in the health services (e.g. shift work) and some relatively specific stressing factors (e.g. contact with grief, intense negative emotion and death). It deals also with the consequences of excessive stress, incl. the "burnout syndrome". It gives a brief account of possible preventive measures at the individual level and at the level of the organization. In the conclusion the author mentions the possibility to use yoga in the prevention of occupational stress in the health services. Work in the health services although, associated with considerable stress, is at the same time an opportunity for personality development and self-realization.