Manage stress for a healthier heart

Laughter is the best medicine, it is said, and in the case of stress it really is. Take time to laugh every day and you will see a reduction in stress. The act of laughing relaxes the body and helps stress melt away.Be sure to get a good night's sleep every night to prevent stress. Lack of sleep or poor quality of sleep make one more prone to stress and anxiety. Staying connected with friends and family is very important for combating stress. Those who report they socialize on a regular occasion also report lower stress levels than those who do not regularly catch up with friends.View the list »
Daily activity can reduce stress levels. Whether it's a brisk walk, short jog or bicycle rid;, exercise is a wonderful way to keep stress levels low.

Healthcare newsletter

Everyone gets stressed from time to time. It’s normal when work is busy or holidays are near to feel an increased level of anxiety, but when stress becomes chronic (either lasting for long periods of time or reoccurring frequently) you have a problem. Prolonged stress takes a toll on the human body, affecting the heart, blood pressure levels and even the way your body distributes fat.

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Stress is a mechanism that actually evolved to help us. You may have heard of the “fight or flight” response which evolved to help humans have advantages when facing dangerous opponents. It works like this:

  1. human sees a saber-toothed tiger
  2. instinctive stress response is triggered
  3. the body releases large amounts of adrenaline and cortisol
  4. fat is released into the bloodstream (for energy)
  5. human is now ready to either fight or flee from opponent

Stress is extremely useful in life-threatening situations, like a run in with a saber-toothed tiger, however in modern times stress is triggered far more often and in far less dangerous situations. A tight deadline at work or an unpleasant boss can stimulate the body’s stress response. The extra adrenaline and cortisol that is released causes your heart to beat faster and blood pressure to increase which is good if you are going to be exerting energy to flee a predator, but not so good if the majority of your day is spent in a sedentary style. Over time, stress can contribute to heart issues.

A healthy heart regimen should always include ways to reduce the stress levels in your life. Review the list of stress relief activities for ideas on ways to improve your heart health.

View the list
  • Daily activity can reduce stress levels. Whether it's a brisk walk, short jog or bicycle rid;, exercise is a wonderful way to keep stress levels low.
  • Staying connected with friends and family is very important for combating stress. Those who report they socialize on a regular occasion also report lower stress levels than those who do not regularly catch up with friends.
  • Be sure to get a good night's sleep every night to prevent stress. Lack of sleep or poor quality of sleep make one more prone to stress and anxiety. 
  • Laughter is the best medicine, it is said, and in the case of stress it really is. Take time to laugh every day and you will see a reduction in stress. The act of laughing relaxes the body and helps stress melt away.
  • Getting organized can help relieve stress. Create a to do list and aim to keep it short and manageable. When you work your way through the list each day and check off the items you'll feel a sense of accomplishment and your stress levels should be lower.
View the list

, Tallahassee Healthy Living Examiner

Jennifer Milanese strives to live a healthy lifestyle despite having a somewhat hectic home and work schedule. She works as a researcher in her 9-5 job, but her research doesn't stop when she clocks out for the day. Instead she uses her skills to find new and innovative ways to make her daily...

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