Century Park Blog

April is National Stress Awareness Month.

According to a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School, stress doesn’t have to ruin your life or your health. Constant stress can have real physical effects on the body and has been linked to a wide range of health issues, including mood, sleep, appetite problems and heart disease.

Stress can influence heart disease in subtle ways. When stressed, people often eat unhealthy food and don’t have the energy or time to exercise. Stress can also lead us into heart-damaging behaviors like smoking and drinking too much alcohol.

Breaking the connection requires both learning to deal with stress and managing unhealthy habits. These five simple tips can help you do just that.

• Stay Positive. Laughter has been found to lower levels of stress hormones, reduce inflammation in the arteries and increase “good” HDL cholesterol.
• Meditate. This practice of inward-focused thought and deep breathing has been shown to reduce heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure.
• Exercise. Everytime you are physically active, whether you take a walk or play tennis, your body releases mood-boosting chemicals called endorphins. Exercising not only melts away stress, it also protects against heart disease by lowering your blood pressure, strengthening you heart muscle and helping you maintain a healthy weight.
• Unplug. It’s impossible to escape stress when it follows you everywhere. Take time each day, even if it’s just 10 or 15 minutes, to escape from the world.
• Find ways to take the edge off your stress. Simple things like a warm bath, listening to music or spending time on a favorite hobby can give you a much- needed break from the stressors in your life.