Five ways to reduce your stress levels
Brittany Newton
| 3 min read
Did you know that the human heart will beat more than 2.5 billion times in a lifetime? The heart is an impressive organ and we need to take care of it to avoid the risk of a heart attack – a leading killer of both men and women in the United States.
According to Thomas M. Maddox, MD, curbing your stress level can reduce your risk of a heart attack. Symptoms from high stress levels include hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cholesterol. Here are some helpful stress management techniques.
Get eight hours of sleep – We are used to hearing we need to get eight hours of sleep per day. According to David T. Derrer, MD, sleep plays a vital role in keeping stress levels at a minimum. When you are tired, you are easily agitated and more irritable, which can increase your stress level. The more sleep you get, the more work you will be able to get done, making that one less thing to stress about.
Turn up the tunes – In the midst of a stressful moment, turn up the music and drown out the world. There are times when our surroundings can get overwhelming. By getting lost in a melody, you will able to relax, refocus your energy and leave the stress behind you.
Take a swim – Jumping in the nearest pool after a long, demanding day, can reduce your level of stress. Swimming requires you to use all of the muscles in your body. Kicking and splashing around the pool forces you to focus all of your energy on the activity at hand, plus after the refreshing dip, you will feel rejuvenated.
Let it go – Unfortunately, we are under a significant amount of pressure in our everyday lives, there will always be forces that are completely out of our control. Whether it’s replacing your tire, or getting sick, just let it go and understand that life will get better. Tomorrow is always a new day, filled with new opportunities.
Make time for yourself – We need to realize that it’s okay to say, “I want time to myself.” There is no reason to feel guilty about spending a day at the spa or curled up by the fireplace with a good read. To relieve yourself of stress, you must be comfortable spending time with yourself. There is no better person to hang out with than you!
Heart attacks are scary and unpredictable, but you can take steps to avoid facing this sudden terror. There is always time to take care of you and ensure that your stress level is kept to a minimum. Strive to keep your heart healthy. With all the stress in our lives, the last thing we need, is a health issue to add to the worry list.
Photo credit: thornypup
