Stress Management

A large part of staying “well” is managing our stress.  Stress.  We all have it.  It comes in all shapes and sizes!  What does stress mean to you?  Stress is the way you react to any change in the status quo (good, bad, real, or even imagined.)  We all process stress and respond to stressors differently.  We physically respond to stress with increased breathing, heart rate and blood pressure.  Our muscles tense us, we sweat, our blood sugar for energy actually increases and even our abstract thinking is diminished.

The stress response can make you more productive.  However, high levels of stress can make you less productive and possible lead to health issues such as: heartburn, headaches, back and/or neck pain, heart disease and the lowering of the body’s immune system.  What can we do that will help to lower our overall stress?  Eat healthy, limit caffeine, limit alcohol, drink 8-10 glasses of water a day, get enough rest and sleep, get regular exercise and balance work and play.