The effects of stress and how to handle it

Changing your daily routine, diet, & outlook on life can have a lasting impact on stress levels

What you should know:
•Try relaxation exercises
•Eat a diet rich with antioxidants
•Keep a stress journal

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Transcript
Hi, I'm Melvin Smith and I'm a CVS pharmacist. Stress is common, and managing it is very important. Changing your daily routine, diet, and outlook on life can have a lasting impact on your stress level.
You can introduce relaxation exercises such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, self-suggestion, massage therapy, yoga, and meditation into your daily or weekly routine. Eat a diet rich with antioxidant vegetables, such as beans, russet potatoes, sweet potatoes, eggplant, asparagus, and spinach. Keep a stress journal that can help you identify stressful events and positive experiences, as well as your reactions. After a few weeks you may be able to recognize patterns and discover how to deal with them. Reset your mind to react logically rather than emotionally, and talk to friends and family. Exercise regularly; get adequate sleep; cut back on alcohol, caffeine, and sugar; and if you smoke - stop. If these changes don't seem to work, and your physical or psychological stress symptoms persist for more than two months, it may be a good idea to see a mental health professional.
Although stress is a normal reaction, constant or long-term stress can wreak havoc on your emotional balance and raise your risk of chronic illness. Long-term stress can result in stomach distress, which can then lead to cramping, diarrhea, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome; depression; memory loss; increased pain due to extra tension on muscles; a weak immune system; and heart disease.
As you can see, it is important to manage your stress before it leads to other problems. If you have any questions, talk to your CVS pharmacist. We're here to help.

Source: CVS Caremark Health Resources

Category:

Education

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