6 Simple Communication Stress Busters for a Healthy Heart
If heart problems run in your family, or if your doctor has
indicated that you need to take steps to protect your heart from
progressive disease, one of the things you will want to do is
reduce the amount of stress in your life. This can be done in
many ways, and results will vary from one person to another.
Overall, though, you may want to consider some of the strategies
listed below to ease tension and improve your sense of well
being.
1. Take a personal timeout every day. This could take the form
of driving to or from work without distractions by turning off
your cell phone and listening to music that you enjoy. You also
could turn on a favorite talk show or pop in a CD. Banish all
thoughts of work or family, except for pleasant ones, to restore
a sense of peace and calm to your life. At home, have a cup of
tea, read the newspaper without interruption, or take a nap
after dinner. Activities like these will increase balance and
tranquility.
2. Keep a writing journal to record negative and positive
feelings. Writing about unpleasant events can help to work them
out of your system. Research shows that spending 20 minutes in
your journal exploring unhappy or difficult events for three
times a week can enhance your body's immune function for up to
24 hours afterward. On the other hand, writing about positive
events lets you savor them by reliving each one again.
3. Get a pet. Some studies suggest that people who stroke or
play with pet dogs or cats, or even those who watch their
goldfish in an aquarium for several minutes daily, can
experience reduced blood pressure levels due to the animal's
calming effect. Walking your dog or riding your horse offers
similar benefits of bonding to nature and enjoying
companionship.
4. Exercise daily. With your doctor's approval, get outdoors in
nice weather and walk around the block. Fresh air, sunshine, and
physical activity have been shown to reduce depression as well
as medication in some people. Feeling down or anxious may
contribute to the buildup of arterial plaque that can lead to
heart attacks.
5. Make connections. Try to get together with friends or family
members several times a month to have fun. Go to dinner, join a
club, or play cards as a social or recreational outlet that will
help to relieve stress and promote the production of endorphins
in your body, which have been shown to have a positive effect in
reducing tension that can make us sick.
6. Develop a spiritual side. Go to church, read Scriptures, and
pray to God. Even medical research has reluctantly begun
admitting the benefits of prayer for patients who are struggling
with serious illnesses.
There are many ways to cultivate a positive outlook and improve
your cardiac health. Try some of these and see what the doctor
says next time you visit for a checkup.