stress
Healthy Summer Habits
Finishing school, starting camp, and looking forward to family vacations all make summer exciting for children. However, tough economic times have forced many families to postpone or cancel summer plans, disappointing children who were looking forward to the yearly family trip or other summertime activities.
Strategies For Mothers To Handle Stress
Mothers in the "sandwich generation," ages 35-54, feel more stress than any other age group as they balance the demanding, delicate acts of caring for growing children and their aging parents, according to the American Psychological Association's 2007 Stress in America survey.
Talking With Children About Stress
According to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association (APA), many Americans - both adults and youth - experience high levels of stress. Adults can more readily identify feelings and causes of stress, and consider ways to manage it. Young people, however, may not recognize signs of stress or know how to respond effectively.
Healthy Habits for Healthy Families
The lives of children and teenagers can be complicated. Pressure from school, friends and parents can build to create an emotionally stressful environment, which can lead to unhealthy eating habits that continue into adulthood.
Say "Ohm!"
Did you ever wonder what really goes on when people meditate? Thai researchers have studied the effects of meditation and found that after meditation, serum cortisol levels were significantly reduced, serum total protein level significantly increased, and systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and pulse rate significantly reduced.
Practice Downward Dog
Break out that exercise mat: Regular yoga and meditation have been found to lower blood pressure. Researchers in a Yale University study found that a six-week yoga and meditation program improved blood vessel function by 17 percent in those who are healthy and an amazing 70 percent in those who already have heart disease. Yoga also helps reduce stress and improve flexibility.
Try to Find the Silver Lining
A positive outlook is good for your heart: Optimists are 30 percent less likely to die of heart disease than pessimists, found a University of Pittsburgh study following 100,000 postmenopausal women. The next time you face a challenge, count your blessings or talk it over with a friend until you find the brighter side of things.
Keep It Calm Behind the Wheel
Getting stuck in traffic can triple your likelihood of having a heart attack for up to an hour afterwards, found researchers in Germany. Women and those who already have regular chest pain are at higher risk. If you must commute during rush hour, try to leave a few minutes earlier, carpool so you have company to help you relax or listen to calming music.
Meet Maria Machin
Meet Maria Machin, an active member of Sister to Sister who started down the path to heart health after joining a diversity group that focused on women’s empowerment.
Stress
Researchers believe that there may be a relationship between the risk of a heart disease and environmental factors, such as stress. We don’t know if stress is an independent risk factor or if it contributes to other problems, such as overeating, smoking, physical inactivity, or high blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
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