THE CROSBY WELLNESS CENTER'S BLOG

3 Tips to Combat Stress

By: Crosby Staff

April 14, 2021, 11:00 am - Categories: Uncategorized

Since 1992, April is recognized as Stress Awareness Month. Health care professionals and health promotion experts’ goal is to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for stress. Handling stress can be different for everyone, and it can filter in from various parts of your life, from your workplace to personal relationships.

Stress Awareness Facts

• Women experience higher levels of stress than men
• 33% of Americans live with extreme stress
• 77% of Americans state stress negatively affects their physical health
• 48% of Americans mention that stress has a negative impact on their personal life
• 3 out of 4 doctor visits are for stress ailments
• Stress-related ailments cost the nation $300 billion each year in medical bills and lost productivity

Here are our top three tips to combat stress today.

Eat Healthy
Stress can affect your hunger cues due largely in part to the body’s fight-or-flight mode, which is a reaction to a situation that’s perceived as dangerous. Feelings of hunger are shut down when your body in this mode. To help combat this effect, do not going more than four hours without having something to eat. Have healthy snacks on hand to resist the temptation to eat junk food. Here are some fresh stress-busting ingredients courtesy of everyday health:

• Fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, trout, and sardines)
• Fat-free or low-fat milk
• Yogurt
• Sweet potatoes
• Leafy greens
• Avocados
• Berries
• Oranges
• Red bell peppers
• Bananas

Exercise
Fitness is typically one of the first things we drop from our schedule when we’re stressed. Powerful endorphins can be produced by physical activity. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, these hormones can help you sleep and (in turn) lower your stress levels. Whether hitting the gym or simply walking to work, try to incorporate regular exercise into your daily life. According to the National Sleep Foundation, even one bout of moderately intense exercise helped people with chronic insomnia fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer the night of the day they exercised. According to the Harvard School of Medicine, when you exercise natural stress reduction occurs. The stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline decrease, while endorphins, which act as natural painkillers and mood boosters, are simultaneously released.

Get Plenty of Sleep
A negative mood, low energy, difficulty concentrating, and a general inability to function as usual can all be the results of not getting enough sleep. When you’re tired, you’re less patient and more easily agitated, which can increase stress. Seven to 9 hours of sleep per night helps you to tackle the day’s stress more easily.

REFERENCES:
https://www.dnaweekly.com/blog/stress-awareness-month/
https://www.everydayhealth.com/wellness/united-states-of-stress/ultimate-diet-guide-stress-management/
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322994