Choose Your Medicine: Laughter, Music, Optimism10 ways to knock out stress
Here are some tips to help you out:
* Be optimistic:
PollyAnna was right: Optimists live longer than pessimists, according to a study of
over 1,100 people tracked for 30 years by researchers at the Mayo Clinic.
And, in a separate study of 999 people, men and women ages 65 to 85, researchers
in the Netherlands found that optimistic participants had lower rates of heart disease
and were 77% less likely to die of cardiovascular diseases.
* Switch jobs:
Yes, your critical boss really can make you sick. The more your job stresses you out,
the greater your chance of developing metabolic syndrome, a combination of factors
that increase the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes, according to a study of
over 10,000 British civil servants.
* Turn on the tunes:
Researchers found that classical music, particularly Baroque--think Pachelbel's Canon
in D--works well. Music with adagio movements of 60 beats per minute produced
heightened alpha brain wave activity similar to that found during deep relaxation
and meditation.
* Don't yo-yo diet:
Is fitting into that slinky black dress worth a heart attack? A study sponsored by
the National Institutes of Health showed that consistently gaining or losing weight
increased the risk of cardiovascular disease due to lower levels of HDL, the good
cholesterol.
* Take control:
"When you perceive you're not in control, that's when stress hormones come into
play," says Goldberg. Know what triggers your stress, and work to lessen the feelings
so the stress is not prolonged.
* Toast less:
"Some people use alcohol to reduce stress, but it's a two-edged sword that most
likely will lead to dependency," says JoAnn Manson, MD, DrPH, chief of the Division
of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Abusing alcohol raises
levels of triglycerides, which are fats in the blood, and can lead to high blood
pressure and heart failure.
* "Have you heard the one about...?"
Researchers at Loma Linda University Medical Center had adults view funny videos,
and found that humor triggered a physiological response similar to exercise. Laughter
increased endorphins and neurotransmitters, lowered stress hormone levels, and
activated T-cells, which fight viruses. Too buttoned up to belly laugh? Consider
joining a laughter club for some help (
www.laughterclubnsw.com).
* Forgive someone:
Stanford researchers, in a study of 259 people who received forgiveness training,
found that 70% of them had decreased feelings of hurt, 27% had reduced physical
symptoms of stress, and 15% had lower emotional stress.
* Make friends:
"Women need each other, especially after a sudden stressful event," says Goldberg.
A 2005 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that women's
hearts are more vulnerable to sudden stressful events, and that highly emotional
experiences cause a surge in stress hormones and temporarily weaken the heart
muscle.
* Meditate:
In a Canadian study of 90 patients, those who meditated in a group for 7 weeks,
as well as additionally at home, had lower scores of mood disturbances, stress,
depression, anxiety, and anger than the group that did not meditate. So take
time to center. Most experts and meditation teachers recommend 20-minute
periods.
Found this in Prevention mag., thought it had some good points.
mercy, peace, and love
Kat
Author
Topic: Ways to de-stress (Read 3994 times)