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AFTER TOSSING
and turning all night, Ann wakes up with a stiff neck. Bob chews antacid tablets
by the handful to combat his upset stomach. Carlos worries about high blood
pressure. Donna dreads stepping on the scale. Ed lights up, even though he knows
it's a smokescreen for his problems.
What do all these people have in common? Stress.
'Stress affects different people in different ways,'
says William Herzberg, MD, of Vancouver Neurologists. 'It can have an impact
both physically and mentally.'
When you're stressed, you may feel angry, afraid,
excited or helpless. Stress can also cause you to have trouble sleeping. If you
don't learn how to cope with it, stress can lead to unhealthy habits or trigger
health problems, such as a heart attack or stroke.
'When you talk with your doctor about your medical
problems, also talk about what's going on in your life,' Dr. Herzberg
recommends. 'By learning how to reduce your stress, you can also improve your
health.'
Tips for
Reducing Stress
If you and your doctor think stress could be behind your health problems - or
if you'd like to prevent problems before they occur - here are some steps you
can take.
- Make a list of the people, events and situations that you find stressful. Then divide the list into two categories: things you can't avoid or control, and things you can influence or change.
- Try not to worry about things out of your control, such as the stock market or the weather.
- Focus your energy on things where you do have some control. If, for example, you're too busy, set realistic goals for yourself and learn to say no.
- Prepare, as well as you can, for things that may be stressful.
- Deal with one thing at a time.
- Turn negatives into positives. For example, if you're stuck in traffic, use the time to listen to a favorite disk.
- Do things that you enjoy.
- Take a deep breath.
- Exercise, eat well, and get plenty of rest. Avoid alcohol.
- Take your mind off daily stresses with group sports, social events, or hobbies.
- Seek help from family, friends or professionals when
your stress level is high.
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