We here at Doctors on Call are offering a monthly blog to contribute to our client’s health and well-being. We are looking forward to presenting an assortment of topics to keep you abreast of how to stay healthy through prevention and what to do if disease strikes. What are the signs and symptoms you should watch for in relation to particular conditions like diabetes, depression, heart disease, skin cancer, the effects of alcohol and tobacco, and obesity? These are only a few of the topics in our cache. Our focus is to help bring awareness to our community.
As we find ourselves in the season of autumn, we all know what’s around the corner, right? The holidays! What comes with holidays? Rushing, over scheduling, eating on the run, job holiday-deadlines, family and work parties, shopping, waiting in long lines either in traffic or in stores, being crunched for time, feeling pressured, relationship tensions and expectations to go here or be there, not feeling good and pushing yourself anyway, numerous school programs to attend, more things to do than you have time for, and so on.
This month we have chosen to shine the spotlight on stress—that 6-letter word that can sneak up on us and hijack our health, not only at the holidays, but every day. Stress is nothing new; it’s been around for millennia, ever increasing in our modern age. What actually is this thing called stress?
Stress is both a fact of nature and a force of nature. It either comes from inside us, affecting our emotional state or from outside us, affecting our physical state. How our body and mind handle the stress, or better-said process the stress determines how each person will be affected, ranging from mild to chronic symptoms, and the latter is where stress becomes so much a part of our lives we eventually implode, mentally or physically. 77% of people in the United States regularly experience physical stress and 73% regularly experience psychological/mental stress according to Statistic Brain Research Institute, American Institute of Stress, NY. Our goal is to help you address the undercurrents of stress before they carry you too far away.
What are these symptoms that could be affecting your health?
Common effects of stress on your body
- Headache
- Muscle tension or pain
- Chest pain
- Fatigue
- Change in sex drive
- Stomach upset
- Sleep problems
Common effects of stress on your mood
- Anxiety
- Restlessness
- Lack of motivation or focus
- Feeling overwhelmed
- Irritability or anger
- Sadness or depression
Common effects of stress on your behavior
- Overeating or under eating
- Angry outbursts
- Drug or alcohol abuse
- Tobacco use
- Social withdrawal
- Exercising less often
There are multiplicities of things you can do to manage stress, bringing your life to balance. Here are a few of our favorites!
- Meditation https://youtu.be/xoYnqvadurg
- Yoga
- Listen to relaxing music. https://youtu.be/v53gz0r_fZU https://youtu.be/s-OFsGeiCpo
- Walk 30 minutes per day.
- Set goals and priorities as not to overwhelm your self.
- Journal about your feelings. https://www.verywell.com/the-benefits-of-journaling-for-stress-management-3144611
- Take time to laugh.
- Ask for help if you need it from friends, relatives, church, and counselors.
- Eating fresh is best and avoid, when you can, food out of bags, boxes, and cans for the highest nutritional content. http://www.webmd.com/diet/ss/slideshow-diet-for-stress-management
- Get 6-8 hours of sleep per night.
For further information on stress visit http://www.gostress.com/stress-facts/# Please note that you should seek help right away if you have suicidal thoughts, feel overwhelmed and that you cannot cope. We are here to help. Do not hesitate to call Call (330) 386-6339 for an appointment today!