Resources for Stress Management If you are dealing with a lot of stress in your life, here are some resources you might find useful. Try Yoga! Online yoga workouts... Anytime, anywhere! The Stress Management Handbook emWave Personal Stress Reliever The Relaxation & Stress Reduction Workbook (New Harbinger Self-Help Workbook) Natural Stress Relief: Dan Gibson's Solitudes 10 Simple Solutions to Stress: How to Tame Tension And Start Enjoying Your Life (10 Simple Solutions) HeartMath emWave PC Stress Relief for Teachers USB Stress Button - Perfect Stress Relief at Work

Stress, as a risk factor for heart disease, has received a lot of scrutiny lately.

The fact is the experts do not yet fully understand all the ways that stress impacts our bodies. There are a lot of theories as well as some generally agreed upon results.

What is stress?

Stress is a necessary part of our physiological makeup. In our evolutionary past, it prepared us for the "fight or flight" response when faced with danger. The hormones adrenaline and cortisol were pumped into our system to enable us to take the appropriate action such as defense against wild animals.

Today we rarely need that "fight or flight" response to situations... it's just not appropriate in civil society (in most cases!).

However, stress still causes the same hormones to be released into our bodies. And that may cause problems for those with chronic stress.

For example, these hormones cause our blood pressure to rise (due to the constriction of the arterioles (the tiny blood vessels that branch out to the skin and other parts of the body), the amount of blood sugar to increase (to provide the necessary energy for the fight or flight response), the heart rate to increase (for the same reason), and the immune system is suppressed, and other reactions.

On occasion this if fine, but if one is feeling chronically stressed the body does not have a chance to return to its normal state. The result is often high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and a weakened immune system.

Your reaction to stress

Understanding your own reaction to stressful situations, and possibly learning how to better deal with them, may be an important skill that will lead to reduced risk of stress induced heart disease.

Let's explore some of the accepted effects of stress on your body. The first thing to bear in mind is that everyone reacts differently to stress.

What you might find invigorating and stimulating another person may find extremely stressful. No two people respond to stress in the same way.

This, incidentally, is one of the challenges that researchers face in studying stress: people have wildly varying responses when exposed to identical stimulus.

Studies have shown that those who live with chronic or ongoing stress are more likely to smoke, overeat, and exercise less, all of which are major risk factors for heart disease.

The adrenalin rush that accompanies extreme stress can cause the blood to clot too readily, and that can lead to heart attacks. So while research into the direct affect of stress on our health continues, the impact on other risk factors is a serious concern for cardiovascular health.

Managing Stress

There are some important questions you can ask yourself about your reactions when faced with stressful situations. By understanding how you are dealing with stress, you will be in a better position to adjust your responses to a more healthy approach and, if necessary, seek professional help.

As you read these questions, answer honestly... usually your first impulse is accurate.

1. Are you quick to anger (i.e., do you yell, pound the steering wheel, and lean on the horn when someone takes longer than you think they should when the light changes)?

2. Do you frequently feel hostile to others (i.e., do you feel strong resentment or bitterness towards someone who gets promoted)?

3. Are you a classic Type A personality (i.e., impatient, highly competitive, always in a hurry)?

4. Are you in a state of chronic physical tension (i.e., clenched jaw, tense muscles, indigestion)?

5. Do you feel mentally fatigued, forgetful, constantly worried, unable to concentrate, burnt out?

6. Do you have a lot of anxiety (i.e., crying, nervous, irritable, mood swings, insecure)?

7. Do you frequently drink, smoke or use drugs to excess?

8. Do you frequently over or under eat?

9. Do you get a lot of headaches?

10. Do you experience a lot of unexplained aches and pains such as cramps, back pain, chest pain, stomach aches, and muscle pains?

12. Are you becoming socially withdrawn?

13. Are your relationships in an unusual amount of conflict?

14. Are you tired and feel you have difficulty getting enough sleep?

b>15. Has your productivity decreased?

Answering yes to several of these questions is an indication that you might be dealing with excessive stress or not effectively managing the stress in your life.

If you are concerned, you should talk to your doctor or other health professional.

Here are some things you can consider to help you to manage the stress in your life:

• Learn to say "no"! Taking on more that you should because you're reluctant to "let someone down" is a common trait in many of us. By taking charge and saying no when appropriate you will avoid adding more stress to your life.

• Get help with possible alcohol and/or drug abuse. Drinking to "reduce stress" is a common habit for many. However, in reality this behavior only adds to stress.

• Quit smoking! While some people say that smoke calms their nerves (i.e., reduces stress) the fact is that nicotine is a stimulant and adds to stress along with all the other health risks.

• Exercise regularly. It's better than alcohol or smoking for reducing stress! Aerobic exercise releases endorphins. These natural substances give you a sense of well being... a natural "high".

• Learn what you can control... and accept what you can't.

• Ask for help. When you're feeling overwhelmed... ask those who can help you with some of those burdens.

• Set aside time to relax and rest each day. Your body and mind need rest to recover from both physical exercise and from mental stresses.

• Eat a healthy diet. Your body needs proper fuel to function effectively... and that includes dealing with stress.

• Consider yoga. Studies have shown positive results for yoga in stress reduction along with other heart healthy results.

• Meditation has been shown to have very positive effects in reducing stress. Many physicians are now recommending meditation as a healthy alternative to drugs.

Try some Humor Therapy!

As with research into the all the affects of stress on our health, more research is needed into the impact of humor and laughter.

But the following are known: a hearty laugh increases your pulse and heart rate, supplies you with extra oxygen and ventilates your lungs, stimulates blood circulation, and helps ease muscle tension. And that has to be good for you!

There are formal humor or laughter therapists and programs, but what we are suggesting is some "self-administration"... a do-it-yourself approach to getting more humor and laughter into your life!

Check out our Laughter Page for more information and resources!

We welcome your comments and feedback as well as suggestions on what has worked well for you in managing your stress.