29 Search Results for "stress"
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Chewing Gum...Pop a Piece! Chewing Gum...Pop a Piece!
- From: LeGreta_Hudson_MS_RD_CDE
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Description:
Chewing Gum…pop a piece!
Did you know that chewing gum was the number one snack choice of Americans?...AND the military has been supplying chewing gum to its personnel as combat rations to help increase alertness, improve oral health and ease tension. I thought it was just for keeping your breathe minty fresh and its oral health benefits.
Well…new research indicates that it may also help with appetite control. It was found that a stick of gum (regular or sugar-free), could reduce hunger and decrease calorie intake. Chewing gum between meals may help you to eat less. More research is needed to fully understand chewing gum as a strategy for managing weight.
It also appears that chewing gum can reduce stress and relieve tension…just in time for those long holiday shopping lines. Before you blow your stack…grab a stick! More research suggests that chewing gum may improve alertness and concentration. This is just what I need to keep me awake on my (less than) 20 minute commute home from work. I’ve pulled into my garage and can’t even remember how I got there.
Chewing gum can also be used to release nervous energy and provide an outlet for frustration and irritation…some psychiatrists suggest. WOW…who knew?
According to Scientist at the Mayo Clinic you may be able to burn ~11 calories per hour chewing gum. Below are more suggestions for using gum to control your appetite and weight. Who knows…you may be able to trim a few inches off your waist line.
Tips for Managing your weight with Chewing Gum
o Pop a piece...to signal the end of a meal.
o When you have the urge for a high-calorie snack…pop a piece! Two sticks of gum for 20 calories OR two chocolate chip cookies for 140 calories…you can save 120 calories
o Does stress trigger you to eat too much? To relieve stress and avoid “mindless munching”…pop a piece!
o Do you nibble while you cook…pop a piece!
Pop a piece to help you decrease...Weight, stress, irritability, frustration, appetite, tension…
Le Greta
- Blog post
- 11 months ago
- Views: 134
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Journaling: A Stress-Managemen Journaling: A Stress-Management Tool
- From: Judy_Bock_RN
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Description:
Journaling: A Stress-Management Tool
I've recently done some reading about journaling, the practice of writing down thoughts and feelings about your life to help with stress management. I haven't been journaling lately, although I have done a little now and then through the years.
When I was a young child, I kept a diary, another name for a journal. It was mostly just a log of the days events, not a tool for self exploration. A frequent entry was, “Today I played with the dog.” The next day I wrote the same thing and also the day after. I made no mention if this helped reduce my childhood angst or if it even brought joy into my life.
As I understand it, to journal for stress management focuses on exploring how one feels or thinks about stressful events or problems. Benefits include valuable self knowledge, problem solving and processing traumatic events. It also has a number of health benefits.
According to About.com's Elizabeth Scott, a master's prepared counselor and life coach, there is scientific evidence that journaling can reduce symptoms of asthma, arthritis and other conditions. Scott says that research also proves it improves cognitive functioning, strengthens the immune system and counteracts many negative effects of stress.
I think I should have explored my feelings about the trauma I endured as a child when my parents got rid of my beloved dog because one day he bit me in the face. The trauma was not the minor injury Teddy left on my face but the hurt and anguish I felt at losing my special buddy.
Today I have life events that are sometimes traumatic and sometimes just run-of-the-mill life problems. I'm going to give journaling a try again. Maybe I'll use my computer and keyboard instead of pen and paper.
Today I played with the dog. She brings great joy to my life and gets me outdoors. Nobody better dare get rid of her.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 117
- Not yet rated
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Essential Health Tips Essential Health Tips
- From: marcusjborg
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Description:
Essential Health Tips
Move More
Make it a daily challenge to find ways to move your body. Climb stairs if given a choice between that and escalators or elevators. Walk your dog; chase your kids; toss balls with friends, mow the lawn. Anything that moves your limbs is not only a fitness tool, it's a stress buster. Think 'move' in small increments of time. It doesn't have to be an hour in the gym or a 45-minute aerobic dance class or tai chi or kickboxing. But that's great when you're up to it. Meanwhile, move more.Cut Fat
Avoid the obvious such as fried foods, burgers and other fatty meats (i.e. pork, bacon, ham, salami, ribs and sausage). Dairy products such as cheese, cottage cheese, milk and cream should be eaten in low fat versions. Nuts and sandwich meats, mayonnaise, margarine, butter and sauces should be eaten in limited amounts. Most are available in lower fat versions such as substitute butter, fat free cheeses and mayonnaise. Thought for the day: Lean, mean, fat-burning machine…. Then be one!
Quit Smoking
The jury is definitely in on this verdict. Ever since 1960 when the Surgeon General announced that smoking was harmful to your health, Americans have been reducing their use of tobacco products that kill. Just recently, we've seen a surge in smoking in adolescents and teens. Could it be the Hollywood influence? It seems the stars in every movie of late smoke cigarettes. Beware. Warn your children of the false romance or 'tough guy' stance of Hollywood smokers. Thought for the day: Give up just one cigarette…. the next one.Reduce Stress
Easier said than done, stress busters come in many forms. Some techniques recommended by experts are to think positive thoughts. Spend 30 minutes a day doing something you like. (i.e.,Soak in a hot tub; walk on the beach or in a park; read a good book; visit a friend; play with your dog; listen to soothing music; watch a funny movie. Get a massage, a facial or a haircut. Meditate. Count to ten before losing your temper or getting aggravated.Protect Yourself from Pollution
If you can't live in a smog-free environment, at least avoid smoke-filled rooms, high traffic areas, breathing in highway fumes and exercising near busy thoroughfares. Exercise outside when the smog rating is low. Exercise indoors in air conditioning when air quality is bad. Plant lots of shrubbery in your yard. It's a good pollution deterrent.Wear Your Seat Belt
Statistics show that seat belts add to longevity and help alleviate potential injuries in car crashes. Thought for the day: Buckle down and buckle up.Floss Your Teeth
Recent studies make a direct connection between longevity and teeth flossing. Nobody knows exactly why. Perhaps it's because people who floss tend to be more health conscious than people who don't?Avoid Excessive Drinking
While recent studies show a glass of wine or one drink a day (two for men) can help protect against heart disease, more than that can cause other health problems.Keep a Positive Mental Outlook
There's a definitive connection between living well and healthfully and having a cheerful outlook on life. Thought for the day: You can't be unhappy when you're smiling or singing. - Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 87
- Not yet rated
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Stress: Talking it Over Stress: Talking it Over
- From: Judy_Bock_RN
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Description:
Stress: Talking it Over
Recently my family has had some personal issues that have increased the stress I feel quite a lot. Having some experience with mental health issues as a former psychiatric nurse and also someone who has from time to time sought professional counseling, I have been asking myself, OK, what to do now?
My choices are numerous and include among others: 1. Do nothing, and let things work themselves out, 2. Be proactive and try to help the situation, or 3. Go to pieces. My choice is number two. This hopefully will have the best result and relieve my guilt in the event things go badly and I had not done something to improve things.
Too much stress can cause depression, anxiety, sleep problems, high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems, all of which I don't need.
Here are some strategies I plan to use to tackle my stress:
Talk it over with someone I trust. This brings up issues of confidentiality of family issues vs seeking help from someone with the ability to be objective and supportive and thus decrease my feeling of isolation and helplessness.
Take practical steps to resolve the problem, such as talking to family members to explore options. Consider seeking professional advice.
One of my trusted associates said something very basic that was a good reminder. “Take care of yourself,” she said. So yes, I'll eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, get plenty of exercise and avoid excess alcohol.
Make sure I have some fun and/or enjoyable activities. I like to read and go for long walks in natural areas, so I'll try to schedule these things into my calendar.
Try to keep a positive attitude. I'm afraid I'm weak in that area.
Take one day at a time and say the Serenity Prayer often.
Any other suggestions?
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 124
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Stess Reduction Tips Stess Reduction Tips
- From: Judy_Bock_RN
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Description:
Stress Reduction Tips
In my role as a health guide, I frequently run across clients who say one of their biggest health concerns is stress. So I did some brainstorming and came up with a few tips that might be useful.
In the do category:
- Take care of yourself by getting plenty of sleep. Try to get eight hours each night.
- Exercise. Walk, bicycle, garden, whatever you enjoy that gets that body off the couch or away from a screen.
- Eat healthy foods, that means lots of fresh fruits and vegies.
- Find a hobby you really enjoy. Invite your favorite friend or family member to share it with you or go do it alone.
- Talk to someone about your stresses and worries. This could be a pastor or other type of spiritual director, a friend, a spouse or a co-worker. It could even be a higher power who you can ask to take over the worry that concerns you so much. You might say, “Lord, I've done all I can. Now it's in your hands.” Then let it go. Easier said than done, I know, but often this simple action can help a great deal.
- Work stress? Try having a talk with your boss or supervisor to see if there is anything that can be done. You might be surprised that they had no idea you were so overloaded. If nothing works with the boss, consider a job change or transfer within the company you work for.
In the don't category:
- Avoid excess alcohol or drugs, legal or illegal. They may seem to help temporarily, but in the long run will only add to your stress.
- Stop smoking. Although a cigarette might be the first thing you want to grab when you get stressed, this too can lead to many health issues that will lead to further stress in your life, including spending money that could be better spent in other ways to decrease your financial worries.
- Avoid over-processed foods and high sugar foods and drinks. They feel and taste good going down, but will give you a letdown later that may add to your stress.
No doubt you can think of other ways to lower your stress in your life. These are just a few to think about and possibly add to your health action plan.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 163
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Know the 5 Fatty Fat Traps Know the 5 Fatty Fat Traps
- From: Jennifer
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Description:
Know the 5 Fatty Fat Traps
These five fat traps jeopardize our ability to have healthier lives. But, with some planning and being mindful of these traps, you can reduce your cardiovascular risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, stress, and lack of exercise.
- The Couch
Our Televisions, computers, and electronics games have our whole families glued to the screens for several hours. We have no reason to move and are increasingly out of shape.
Solutions: Limit your electronic times; children should have no more than 2 hours a day. Make a pact with the family, we all get up and move, play basketball together. Move while doing computer work or exercise between commercials.
- Snacks
Fast food, coffee/pastry shops, and pizza at our beck and call anytime, make it an easy trap to fall into. Chips, soda, and cookies, a sugar addicts high, right at your reach as you walk into the grocery store (most likely hungry.)
Solutions: Plan your meals ahead of time, never shop hungry, and keep
healthy snacks available. Avoid skipping meals, hunger creates poor choices. Keep healthy snacks at reach, like apples, grapes, carrots, yogurt, popcorn or trail mix.
- The Job
Many jobs are sedentary; you’re stuck at a desk and on a computer for eight hours. We email to communicate instead of getting up and talking to a coworker.
Deadlines create stress and often skipped breaks.
Solutions: Make a point to get up from your desk and move around. Take your fifteen minute breaks and take a brisk walk.
- Alarm Clocks
Our lives are so busy the first thing to go is enough sleep time. We know the sleepier we are the more food we eat to stay awake to fight the tiredness. Poor food choices are likely and to tired to exercise.
Solution: Don’t sacrifice your sleep, make it a priority. Get 7-8 hours sleep every night; restore your body’s energy to avoid the trap of sleep deprivation.
- Money
The economy being so poor and job losses all around make for very stressful lives. Stress makes us over eat, reeks havoc on our families, and health.
Solution: Don’t let the stress eat you up, exercise! Get up and move, no need for a gym membership, walk your park trails or neighborhoods. Check out a DVD workout from your local library. Ride your bike or play basketball with your family and friends.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 194
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Dosing Alcohol Dosing Alcohol
- From: Julie_Stansfield_MD
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Description:
Dosing Alcohol
One of my most favorite professors from Medical School always used to say, “Everything has a correct dose. Even too much water will kill you.” My favorite professor from Missouri University of Science and Technology (University of Missouri-Rolla) used to say “the solution to pollution is dilution”. He would remind us that arsenic is an element found in nature and therefore “natural” and found in your bodies. A little clearly won’t hurt you. Living amongst University students this week reminds me of the importance of learning about alcohol dosing. In Italy there really isn’t a word for “drunk”, the closest translation is “hasn’t had enough to eat”. In Italy eating and alcohol go hand in hand. However being drunk is considered poor manners. Learning to stop well before you are drunk is part of being a refined adult. Being drunken places a person at risk for many bad events, car wrecks, falls, and other decisions that will haunt you after the hangover has left.
Despite all alcohol’s possible bad effects, it is easy to forget that a little alcohol has true benefits. It seems to improve a person’s cholesterol, reduce their risk of heart disease and risk of diabetes. The dose is critical. One for a woman is enough. Two for a man is enough. The higher doses have more complications. Some medicines should never be mixed with alcohol.
People frequently drink to relax; too much however causes more anxiety and stress. People may drink to help them sleep, but higher doses causes sleep problems. Higher alcohol doses raise a person’s blood pressure a little may lower your blood pressure.
Alcohol is found in nature, it is in all our bodies in tiny amounts. Too much will kill you, a little may help you if you are otherwise healthy. If you don’t know how to drink one or two and then stop, then you shouldn’t drink. You won’t get the benefits from the correct dose, only the problems from the wrong dose.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 223
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Is Yoga for You? Is Yoga for You?
- From: Judy_Bock_RN
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Description:
Is Yoga for You?
If you aren’t one of more than 13 million Americans who practice yoga already, you might wonder if it could benefit you as part of your goal to be healthier and feel better.
Originating in ancient India sometime around 5,000 years ago, yoga employs stretching and physical postures, breathing and relaxation techniques. The word yoga comes from a Sanskrit word meaning “yoke or union” and is believed to refer to the union between mind and body.
According to the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine, there is “growing evidence to suggest that yoga works to enhance stress-coping mechanisms and mind-body awareness.”
The most common type of yoga in the United States is Hatha yoga, which emphasizes postures (asanas) and breathing exercises (pranayama). It is used for a variety of conditions including depression, high blood pressure, stress, asthma and anxiety disorders. Many people do yoga simply to achieve physical fitness and to relax.
In my own life as a former yoga practitioner, I enjoyed the increased flexibility, balance and relaxation that came from 30 to 45 minutes of various stretches and positions while at the same time slowly inhaling and exhaling in a controlled manner. I liked being in a class at a yoga center, but eventually used videos at home to reduce the cost and to do it at a more convenient time for my schedule.
Compared to other exercise options, yoga is fairly inexpensive and requires little in the way of equipment other than a mat, which is optional but desirable, and stretchy, comfortable clothing. Expensive footwear isn’t needed either, as yoga is usually performed barefoot.
Yoga is safe for healthy people. If you have conditions such as spinal disc disease, glaucoma, retinal detachment, extremes of high or low blood pressure, severe osteoporosis, blood clots or cervical spondylitis, you should avoid inverted yoga postures.
If you are pregnant, yoga is safe under expert guidance, but some postures may need to be avoided. In general, if you have a medical condition, consult your health care provider before starting yoga, just to be sure it’s OK.
So, you might ask, why did you stop doing yoga? I think I stopped due to a bit of boredom doing yoga alone in my living room and also because I might have overdone it with some postures that seemed to aggravate hip pain. As I write this however, I think I may return to yoga again sometime in the future as part of my exercise regimen along with walking and tennis.
Reference: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/yoga/introduction.htm
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 151
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Make your skin glow through cl Make your skin glow through cleansing and moisturising
- From: jenniferadams
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Description:
Every day our skin is ravaged by external forces - weather, changes in temperature and dirt to name a few. Combine this with internal forces such as diet, quality of sleep and stress and you begin to understand just how much of a battering your skin really takes.
Thankfully our skin is resilient to both internal and external forces and it takes a considerable amount of pressure before the effects begin to show. Taking care of your skin on a regular basis means you can slow down these effects and keep any visible skin changes to a minimum.
Of all the different techniques for skin care, one of the most effective is skin cleansing. Skin cleansing allows you to clean dirt on the surface of your skin and battle the build up of dirt and grease that makes it into your pores.
While our faces may appear clean, they are constantly exposed to dirt and pollution and this can cause a build up in the pores. This build-up affects the skin's ability to breathe which in time can have a serious effect on your skin.
While it is possible to clean your face using soap, this is often best avoided due to the high alkaline levels many supermarket soaps contain. This alkaline may be great for washing hands, but when it comes to taking care of the more sensitive skin areas it can often due as much harm as good.
Most skin experts recommend using a natural cleansing product such as vegetable oils or sesame cleansing ingredients. Another recommended natural product is seaweed. Seaweed contains an unusually high mineral content that when gently scrubbed into the skin can eliminate poisonous toxins and get to work improving circulation and smoothening the skin's surface.
No matter what cleansing method you choose - natural soaps or supermarket-based products - it is always good to finish off this process with a moisturiser or a day cream. Now that the build up of dirt on the skin's surface and within the pores has been taken care of, moisturising products can really begin to take effect.
When moisturisers and day creams are applied on 'uncleansed' skin, the effects are often minimal. While the creams can make a difference to the surface of the skin, the hidden layers of dirt that are present on the skin often stop it from working fully. Of course, if the day creams and moisturisers are only capable of having a minimal effect on the surface of the skin, it's even more difficult for them to get into the pores.
Adapting to a routine of regularly cleansing and moisturising will give your pores the freedom to breathe and help your skin glow like never before.
Jennifer Adams is a dedicated health fanatic and writes for a digital marketing company. This article is not written to promote but should be considered professional content. - Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 157
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Why Can't I Sleep? Why Can't I Sleep?
- From: Jennifer
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Description:
Why Can’t I Sleep?
Babies do it; Kindergartners’ do it at school even! Cats do it for over 18 hours a day. Teenagers can’t get enough. It can’t be that hard. Sleep, “if I could just get some sleep I know I would feel better.” I personally have been there quite a few times. Sometimes the slightest thing can upset that delicate balance of sleep. How do I get it back?
The goal is to re-establish our natural sleep patterns. First, let’s look at our personal habits.
Do you have a fixed bedtime and awakening time? Avoid letting those times drift. Our bodies get use to falling asleep at a certain time, only if it is a fixed time.
Avoid naps, if you nap throughout the day you will not sleep at night. A late afternoon nap is fine, if it is only 30-45 minutes and you’re able to sleep at night.
Avoid alcohol 4-6 hours prior to bedtime.
Avoid caffeine 4-6 hours prior to bedtime (coffee, tea, soda and chocolate.)
Avoid heavy, spicy or sugary foods 4-6 hours prior to bed.
Exercise regularly either morning or afternoon. This will help deepen your sleep. Don’t exercise 2 hours prior to bedtime because it will decrease the ability to fall asleep.
Next, how’s your sleep environment?
Is you bedding comfortable? What a great way to get that comfy new bedding you’ve been wanting!
Is your room to hot or cold? A cool room is conducive to sleep.
Is your room full of light and noise at night? Keep it dark and quiet for great sleep.
Reserve the bed for sleep or sex. It’s not the office or recreational room. Creating your sleep environment will let your body “know” that the bed is associated with sleep.
How to get ready for bedtime, my favorite part! The pre-sleep ritual and let everyone in the house know, “I’m getting ready for my beauty sleep.”
Start with a warm bath or shower, followed by a light snack of milk or a banana. Do something relaxing, light reading for few minutes or deep breathing.
Get into your comfortable sleep position and fall off to sleep. If you don’t fall asleep within 15-30 minutes, get up, go to another room, and read until sleepy.
Barriers to restful sleep happen, for instance taking worries to bed; it’s the recipe for a sleepless night. One suggestion is to schedule a worry time during the late afternoon or evening. Writing them down can be a helpful way of letting it go for the rest of the day.
What if I wake up in the middle of the night? After 15-20 minutes if you are not back to sleep, get up and go to another room. Try a light snack, reading or quiet activity. Do not do housework, job related work, or watch TV. Keep it light and not to engaging, usually within 20 minutes you will want to go back to bed.
What’s so bad about television? (I tell my kids it shrinks your brain! We can’t afford shrinking brains at our house!) Television is such an engaging activity for the brain; you just can’t start that shut down process we need for sleep. Keep the television out of bedrooms and avoid using it as a tool to fall asleep to. A radio is a better choice if you need something to help you get to sleep.
Physical problems can cause us to not sleep well. Arthritis, menstruation, pain, heartburn, or headaches can be physical reason to lose sleep over. Consult your physician for help.
Psychological problems can disturb our sleep. Depression, stress and anxiety are big culprits of creating havoc in our sleep. A sign of depression is not being able to stay asleep for a period of time. Seeking a physician’s help is recommended and best course of action.
Sometimes medications we take regularly can have side effects like sleeplessness. Consult your physician or pharmacist about medication side effects.
Sleeping medications are sometimes used to help improve sleep patterns. It’s usually prescribed on a short term basis to see if it can help you re-establish your natural pattern of sleep.
I hope this overview of sleep health will help you catch some ZZZZZZZZZZZZ! Good night.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 210
- Not yet rated
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Health = Friendship and Friend Health = Friendship and Friendship = Health
- From: tracy_korman
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Description:
Health = Friendship and Friendship = Health
Don’t you just hate that trite expression – “It isn’t what you know… it’s who you know?” Well it turns out that it is true in a way that you might not have expected. Just knowing how to make good health choices isn’t enough. You need to be connected to people in your life that care that you make those healthy choices. A strong network of friends is an essential ingredient to achieving your health objectives and that is now being supported by real academic research.
Here is a quote from today’s “Well” article from the New York Times:
“Researchers are only now starting to pay attention to the importance of friendship and social networks in overall health. A 10-year Australian study found that older people with a large circle of friends were 22 percent less likely to die during the study period than those with fewer friends. A large 2007 study showed an increase of nearly 60 percent in the risk for obesity among people whose friends gained weight. And last year, Harvard researchers reported that strong social ties could promote brain health as we age.”
It makes so much sense that eating, exercising, drinking, smoking and managing stress have very strong social dimensions – we do these things as part of our lives with our friends and relations. Just think how many people you know smoke, drink and overeat when at parties or in other social situations. The social norm seems to approve of and support these decisions.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. Why has Weight Watchers and other support-based health improvement approaches had so much success? For one, they are establishing a friendship network that supports eating healthier and exercising more. Because with a strong friendship network that is connected to our shared health, we can all truly live better longer – sound familier?
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 410
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Ban the News!?! Ban the News!?!
- From: Cindy_Sears_RN_CDE
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Description:
Ban the News?!?
Many years ago I read a suggestion (I think it was in one of Andrew Weil’s books) that NOT listening/reading/watching the news could be good for your health.
At the time I dismissed the idea, but now I’ve decide to give it a try. Remember the Simon and Garfunkel song “The Only Living Boy in New York”. It included the lyric “I get the news I need on the weather report. I can gather all the news I need to know from the weather report.”
I’m not sure I’d go THAT far. But I can get all the news I need from the people around me. Sometimes I hear about something I want to know more about and then I do some research.
SOMEONE needs to follow the news, but personally I’d rather listen to music while I get ready for work or drive around in my car. All I can say is “try it”. Do you feel more peaceful as you go about your day?
I’m not suggesting a person be ignorant of the world’s problems. Those problems need our attention. But for me, I think I’d been overdoing the need to know. I’d been filling my time and my head with TOO much news TOO often.
And maybe it did affect my health. All those stress hormones can’t help but flow when I expose myself to the news. But I still watch the weather report!
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 205
- Not yet rated
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Blood Pressure Pills? Me? Blood Pressure Pills? Me?
- From: Julie_Stansfield_MD
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Description:
Blood Pressure Pills?
Many people come in for their regular check up, and I find their blood pressure is high. The recommendation is to aim for a resting blood pressure of less than 130/80.
So what is the next step?
If a person’s blood pressure isn’t too high sometimes they can avoid medicine. So your doctor may decide you are a candidate for lifestyle changes.
You’ve probably heard the drill:
1. Cut out the salt
2. Start exercising every day
3. Eat more fruit and vegetables.
4. Eat low fat dairy products
5. Try to get 8 hours of sleep each night
6. Manage the stress in your life.
So now you’ve started all these things. How long do you wait before you have to think about taking medicine? Usually three to four months. However it may be that you begin to make real progress at four or five months. At your next visit to your doctor or other health care provider may feel that you are making enough progress that you might make the goal with just a little more time. It may be you have other health problems that mean you really can’t wait; you’ll need to start medicine. However if you have no other health problems you have more time that other people. Check your blood pressure, write down the numbers then make a plan for the week. Write your plan down. Decide what days you will exercise. Put the salt shaker away. Plan on a bedtime. Plan on the vegetables, fruit and low fat dairy products you will eat for the week. Then make your shopping list. When you meet your goals check off those tasks as “done”.
So after really doing these things for a few weeks, it becomes second nature. Even if your blood pressure isn’t perfect, all these things will help you minimize your medication if you still need it. Blood pressure medicine is an important part of keeping you healthy. A good blood pressure helps you avoid strokes, heart disease and kidney problems. There are many kinds of blood pressure pills; choosing one that is right for you is an important part of your next office visit with your doctor or other healthcare provider.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 175
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The ZEN of Stress Management The ZEN of Stress Management
- From: Cindy_Sears_RN_CDE
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Description:
The ZEN of Stress Management
If you are of a certain “vintage” you remember the brightly-colored paperback copies of Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.
I read it, but I must confess that I didn’t “get it”. In fact, I only recently heard a definition of “Zen” that I do understand.
During pledge week on PBS, they aired some talks by Eckhardt Tolle. He defined Zen as “doing one thing at a time”.
It made me think about “Zen & the Art of Stress Management”.
As with many things, when it comes to stress, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. It seemed to me that doing just one thing at a time might be a good way to avoid stress in the first place.
I decided to try doing just one thing at a time. Wow! What an eye-opener that was. Try it yourself and I’ll bet you’ll be surprised how “alien” that feels.
We Americans are busy, busy, busy. We can’t afford to do just one thing at a time. There’s much too much to do! Or is there?
Stress takes a toll on our health. All of those fight-or-flight hormones flood our systems and their effects are many. The stress response can be life-saving in truly life-threatening situations, but it does not do us much good (and probably does us much harm) when the stressor is not imminently dangerous.
So give “zen” a try. See how it feels. Doing one thing at a time can slow life down enough that you might even be able “to stop and smell the roses”.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 203
- Not yet rated
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susanchavez
- Views: 124
- Since: 1 year ago
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What is Normal Blood Pressure? What is Normal Blood Pressure?
- From: Julie_Stansfield_MD
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Description:
What is Normal Blood Pressure
Many people wonder what a “normal” blood pressure is. This is because once you begin to check your blood pressure regularly you will notice that your blood pressure is not always the same. The number goes up and down quite a bit. So when you are rested and having a good day your blood pressure might be 120/70, which is a great number. If you get up for your daily walk, then yell at your kids for dying the cat red, your blood pressure might rise to 180/90. Once you calm down, you'll notice your blood pressure drops down to the 120/70 range. So some variation is normal. To really decide if your blood pressures are too high, just write them down and go visit your doctor or other primary care provider. A chance to look at all these numbers may be needed to really decide if your blood pressure is okay
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
- Views: 151
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stacifonseca
- Views: 133
- Since: 1 year ago
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mm641101
- Views: 82
- Since: 1 year ago
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Dfallis
- Views: 67
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Pound Wise & Penny Foolish Pound Wise & Penny Foolish
- From: Cindy_Sears_RN_CDE
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Pound Wise & Penny Foolish
MyHealthVillage is a portal provided by Longitude Health, Inc. One of Longitude Health’s goals is to help people take steps toward a healthier life style.
Does giving people information about diet, exercise, and stress management really make a difference in preventing illness? How does lifestyle counseling compare to the effectiveness of procedures like coronary artery bypass surgery or angioplasty?
In these times of limited resources, what would be the best use of our healthcare dollars? Here’s what Jane Brody had to say in a recent New York Times article.
“The treatments — coronary artery bypass surgery, angioplasty and the placement of drug-coated stents — cost about $60 billion a year in the United States. Though they are not known to prevent heart attacks or coronary mortality in most patients, they are covered by insurance.”
“Counseling patients about diet, exercise and stress management — which is relatively inexpensive and has been proved to be life-extending — is rarely reimbursed. In other words, procedure-oriented modern cardiology is pound wise and penny foolish.”
Dr. Michael Ozner, who received the 2008 American Heart Association Humanitarian Award, was quoted in this article. He said, “If some of the billions spent on intervention were put into prevention, we’d have a much healthier America at a lower cost.”
You might want to read Dr. Ozner’s new book called The Great American Heart Hoax. In the meantime, learn more about diet, exercise, and stress management at MyHealthVillage.
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- 1 year ago
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