About Us    Contact Us    Careers    Site Map    Go
Health Care Services    Hospitals & Facilities    Health Information    Find a Doctor    Why Choose Baptist
 
Home Health Information Baptist Online Health & Wellness
De-stress Your Way To Better Heart Health
 

 
Daily Bread
Love is patient, love is kind.
1 Corinthians 13:4
Follow these tips to manage the stress in your life

Stress is a part of everyday life—there’s no way to totally avoid it.

But it is important to manage your stress as best as possible. More and more evidence suggests a relationship between the risk of cardiovascular disease and environmental and psychosocial factors, according to the American Heart Association. These factors include job strain, social isolation and personality traits. It is not known if stress acts as an "independent" risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Acute and chronic stress may affect other risk factors and behaviors, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, smoking, physical inactivity and overeating.

The American Heart Association has developed 12 good strategies for reducing stress. Try to incorporate at least one or two of these ideas into your life this week. Then a couple of weeks later try one or two more steps. Before you know it, you will have developed effective ways to manage stress.

  1. Talk with family, friends, clergy or other trusted advisers about your concerns and stresses and ask for their support.
  2. Take 15 to 20 minutes a day to sit quietly, breathe deeply and think of a peaceful scene.
  3. Learn to accept things you can't change. You don't have to solve all of life's problems.
  4. Count to 10 before answering or responding when you feel angry.
  5. Don't use smoking, drinking, overeating, drugs or caffeine to cope with stress. These make things worse.
  6. Look for the good in situations instead of the bad.
  7. Exercise regularly. Do something you enjoy, like walking, swimming, jogging, golfing, walking a pet, tai chi or cycling. Check with your doctor to determine what activity level is right for you.
  8. Think ahead about what may upset you and try to avoid it. For example, spend less time with people who bother you. If you're still working or volunteering, cut back on your hours and adjust your schedule to avoid driving in rush-hour traffic.
  9. Plan productive solutions to problems. For example, talk with your neighbor if the dog next door bothers you, and set clear limits on how much you'll do for family members.
  10. Learn to say no. Don't promise too much. Give yourself enough time to get things done.
  11. Join a support group ... maybe for people with heart disease, for women, for men, for retired persons, or some other group with which you identify.
  12. Seek out a mental health professional or counselor if you can't cope on your own. Ask your doctor, family or friends for recommendations. If they can't help, ask your spiritual leader or a hospital social worker for some names.
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Action items to post on my refrigerator or in my wallet:

Managing stress is one of the most important things I can do to improve my health and your life. So, I will make managing stress a priority in my life. I will come up with a step-by-step plan like the example below.

Week 1 – I will wake up 15 or 20 minutes earlier than usual. I will find a quiet, comfortable place in my home or yard and sit quietly, breathe deeply and meditate.

Week 2 – I will schedule time to exercise. One idea: when I come home from work, I will change into comfortable clothes and athletic shoes and take a walk in the neighborhood. Or I will wake up earlier each morning and walk or exercise after my morning quiet time.

Week 3 – I will look at my weekly schedule. Is it packed? Am I doing too much? I will look at all your activities and see if there are things I should say “no” to. The next time someone calls asking for a time commitment, I will think about it before responding. I will learn to say “no.”

Week 4 – I will take time to reflect on my life. I will avoid spending time with people who bother me. I will learn to accept things I can’t change. I will not try to solve all life’s problems. I will talk to someone I trust about my stresses and problems. I will seek professional help if needed.

Published: Feb. 11, 2005
Source: American Heart Association
Writer: Beth Bartholomew, MA, APR


Top of Page
You May Be Interested In...

See Information Related to This Topic
Home | Health Care Services | Hospitals & Facilities | Health Information | Find a Doctor | Why Choose Baptist
©2008 Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer. Notice of Privacy Practices.
Baptist Memorial Hospital In keeping with the three-fold ministry of Christ - preaching, teaching and healing - Baptist Memorial Health Care Corporation will be the leader in providing quality health care.