HealthyLife Articles

Tag: stress

Buried In Clutter

SELF-CARE CORNER

Feeling overwhelmed with your “stuff” and looking for ways to throw “things” away? Follow the tips below in de-cluttering from The Cleaning Authority.

Sort it out

Begin by sorting, room by room, into the following piles: keep, donate, sell, trash, and recycle. (Label a box or laundry basket for each category.) Focus on the end result and go with your gut when deciding what to do with an item.

Get rid of it!

Purge items in the recycle and trash piles so they no longer take up space in your home. Consumers spend one year of their lives looking for lost items, according to the National Association of Professional Organizers. Having more space in your home makes it easier to organize and find the things you keep.

Make a little cash.

List items for sale on Craigslist or eBay, or take them to a resale store. Give yourself a deadline to sell everything. Whatever has not sold by that date, donate.

Give back to the community.

Goodwill, Purple Heart, and Habitat for Humanity are just a few options to consider when donating your household goods. Not all items may be accepted, so check with your local charity if you are planning on donating furniture or any larger items. Many will send a truck if you call them to schedule a pickup.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Can Stress Really Break Your Heart?

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

We know that stress affects the body in many ways. When you’re stressed, your heart may race, you may sweat or get a headache and some people even get sick. But experts say that extreme stress can also cause a condition known as broken heart syndrome.

Broken heart syndrome is sometimes called stress-induced or takotsubo cardiomyopathy. It can happen when someone has extreme stress like grief, shock or anger. It can also happen when the body is under physical stress, such as extreme exercise, surgery or dealing with a serious illness.

Why does broken heart syndrome happen?

Some medical experts believe that a high release of stress hormones affects how well the heart can pump blood, causing a problem with the heart muscle. This effect is only temporary, however, and the heart usually returns to its normal function. Or, high stress may cause a spasm in one of the arteries that supplies blood to the heart.

What does broken heart syndrome look like?

Symptoms of broken heart syndrome look a lot like a heart attack. They include chest pain and feeling out of breath. These symptoms begin within a few minutes to hours after the stressful event happens.

Because there’s no way to know if you have broken heart syndrome or a heart attack, it’s important to go to the emergency room if you notice these symptoms. Usually, the doctors will run tests like a chest x-ray, EKG or other procedures to see how the heart is working. These tests are painless.

How is it treated?

First, the doctors will want to improve blood flow to the heart. Certain medicines for blood pressure may be used or blood thinners. In some cases, medicines for anxiety are used to help lower stress hormones in the body.

Some people may need to stay in the hospital for a few days. Most people recover within a few days without any long-term damage to their heart.

Remember, if you have chest pain or shortness of breath, it’s always important to get medical help right away.

Source: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Care For The Caregiver

FAMILY LIFE

Stress, anxiety, and burnout are never far from the doorsteps of millions of Americans who are caregivers as they often juggle the responsibilities of providing daily care for a loved one with dementia or another condition with the added demands of working, maintaining a household, or raising children.

Too often caregivers don’t know how to ask for help, and friends and family members aren’t sure of how to lend a hand.

“Caregivers will say ‘no’ when offered help because they worry it will reflect poorly on them or because they ‘don’t want to bother’ others. And some caregivers get so attached to their role that they just can’t let go,” said Nancy Alterman, a licensed clinical social worker with the New Jersey Institute for Successful Aging at the UMDNJ-School of Osteopathic Medicine.

If you know a family member or close friend who is a caregiver, Alterman offers the following suggestions to help ease that person’s burden.

* Be sensitive about visiting by calling ahead to schedule a time that is convenient. But if the caregiver routinely declines offers of a visit, you may need to just show up with special foods or an easy activity like a puzzle.

* Avoid bringing a crowd, but visiting with at least one other person gives the caregiver a chance to go out with a friend, knowing that another trusted person is there for the patient’s needs.

* Instead of asking, “What can I do?” offer to grocery shop, go to the post office, do laundry or cook a meal that you can bring over.

* Be a good listener. Whether in person or by phone, sometimes just having a contact to the outside world is all the caregiver needs to help cope with that day’s burden.

* Be alert for signs of caregiver stress, such as denial, social withdrawal, sleeplessness, or lack of concentration.

* Offer to spend the night so the caregiver can get some rest. Lack of sleep can quickly lead to a deteriorating situation or a health crisis. Make sure the caregiver and the patient are discussing any sleep issues with their doctors.

* Research adult medical day services in your community and share that information with the caregiver. These medically supervised programs can actually help extend the time that the patient can remain at home.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Does Stress Lead To Cancer?

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Whether due to work, family or finances, most of us have felt stressed at some point in our lives. And to make matters worse, some studies have shown that stress can lead to depression, anxiety, or a weakened immune system. But can it cause cancer?

The National Cancer Institute says no. There is no evidence that stress alone can lead to cancer. But, habits such as smoking, drinking, and eating unhealthy foods may be linked to cancer. These are often done in response to high stress events.

Bottom line:cope with stress in healthy ways, such as exercising, deep breathing, meditation, and getting help from your doctor, if needed. Lowering your overall stress levels will help you feel your best emotionally and physically. And, don’t worry about whether the occasional stressful event may cause cancer. The experts say it won’t.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Exercise Is Healthy For Your Mind

BE FIT

Regular exercise offers many health benefits. You may already know it helps you stay strong and healthy, and can help you lose weight. It can also help prevent heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and other diseases. But exercise is doing good for another vital organ in your body: your brain.

Studies are now showing that regular aerobic exercise can help your brain work better. This includes:

* Better memory

* Ability to switch tasks

* Ability to plan activities and stay organized

* Possible reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Although researchers don’t know exactly why exercise helps the mind, there are some possibilities. It increases blood supply to the brain, and helps it form connections. These connections are responsible for forming memories and thinking about future activities. Exercise also improves an area of the brain that remembers and learns.

Source: National Institute on Aging

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Stress Relief For Caregivers

Mature Health: Over Age 50

If you’re the primary caregiver for a spouse, parent, or other relative, you face a tough challenge. Here’s what you can do to make the workload easier.

* Set up the sickroom on the main floor, so you don’t have to continually go up and down stairs.

* Purchase or rent equipment that will make caregiving easier. Examples include an electric hospital bed, an over-bed table, and a walker or wheelchair.

* Keep clean bed linens, towels, washcloths, hand lotion, drinking cups, and other supplies in or near the sickroom.

* Develop a daily schedule and stick to it.

To reduce the stress of your ongoing responsibility:

* Delegate some tasks to family and friends.

* Investigate community services that provide transportation, deliver meals, and provide other kinds of help.

* Enlist the services of a home health care agency. The social service or discharge planning department of your hospital, Social Security Administration, local agency on aging, county public health department, or your physician, can refer you to an agency in your area.

* Plan to get out of the house to shop or socialize at least one day a week.

* Find out if the cost of hiring help to care for someone at home is covered by your medical insurance provider, Medicaid, or Medicare. The Veterans Administration may be able to provide financial assistance for veterans’ medical or nursing care.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Practice Safe Stress

SUCCESS OVER STRESS

Post-holiday stress during the gloomy days of winter can trigger stress or depression. Dr. E. Christine Moll, a mental health counselor, notes that relationships, finances, and physical demands can trigger stress.

“When stress is at its peak, it’s hard to stop and regroup,” said Dr. Moll. “Take steps to help prevent normal seasonal depression from progressing into chronic depression.” She suggests the following strategies:

*Acknowledge your feelings.

*Seek support.From family and friends or community, religious, or social services. Consider volunteering at a community or religious function. Getting involved and helping others can lift your spirits and broaden your social circle.

*Be realistic.Things don’t always stay the same. Find new ways to connect.

*Set differences aside.Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don’t live up to all your expectations. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion.

*Stick to a budget.And if holiday bills are mounting, work with a financial counselor to scale that mountain and plan to avoid a similar situation next year.

*Learn to say no.

*Keep up your healthy habits.Make time for exercise.

*Take a breather.Make some time for yourself even if it’s just 15 minutes alone. Take a walk, star gaze, listen to music. Read a fascinating book. Slow your breathing and restore calm.

*Rethink resolutions.Don’t resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines. Set smaller, more specific goals with a reasonable time frame.

*Seek professional help if you need it.Talk with your doctor or a member of your company’s EAP for a referral to a mental health counselor.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Add A Stress-Busting Food To Your Day

Healthylife® Weigh

Part 6

What you eat may impact your mood. Make sure you are eating a balanced diet with nutrient-dense foods. B vitamins and magnesium can be helpful for managing anxiety and boosting your mood. Avoid foods and drinks high in sugar that can cause mood swings and fatigue.

B Vitamins

B vitamins can stimulate the brain’s production of serotonin. This helps you relax and feel good.

Good Sources of B Vitamins

* Animal products: fish, poultry, meat, eggs, or dairy

* Whole grains, beans and lentils

* Fruits and vegetables, especially leafy greens, papayas, oranges, and cantaloupe

* Fortified breakfast cereals and enriched soy or rice milk

* Nuts, such as almonds, pistachios, and walnuts

Magnesium

Magnesium has a calming effect on the brain. It can help relax muscles, blood vessels, and the gastrointestinal tract. Magnesium can also boost serotonin and reduce mood swings.

Good Sources of Magnesium:

* Dark leafy greens

* Nuts, seeds, and dried fruit

* Beans and lentils

* Whole grains

* Avocados and bananas

* Dark chocolate

* Yogurt

* Fish

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
How To Reduce Stress At Work

WORK LIFE

Get enough sleep:Poor sleep can affect your mood, judgement and memory. This can harm your ability to cope with stress.

Look at the bright side:Each day, write down something you are thankful for. Take note of things that make you smile.

Get moving:Exercise is a well-known way to reduce stress and improve mood. Walking just 20 minutes a day can make a difference.

Try meditation:Meditating, praying or whatever helps you block out the stress of the day can help you relax. Finding time for peace can reduce overall stress levels.

Find ways to laugh:Laughter can help your muscles relax, which can be soothing after a stressful day.

Take a deep breath:Deep breathing activates a state of relaxation. Focus on deep breaths in and out for a few minutes each day.

Stretch it out:Stretching can be relaxing and can help the body get ready for sleep. Stretch each night before bed to help you get good rest.

Talk to others:Emotional support from friends and family is helpful during times of stress. Make plans to talk with people and have fun with loved ones during your free time.

Sources: American Institute of Stress, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, American Psychological Association

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026
Manage Stress

Healthylife® Weigh

Part 6

Use the tools presented earlier in this guide to manage stress.

* Be physically active.

* Dispute unhelpful thoughts.

* Create a healthy food environment. When stressed, it may be tough to avoid unhealthy food options that are within arm’s reach.

* Listen to music. Or, learn an instrument, write music or lyrics, or sing. These can all help you release tension.

Make a Laugh Manual

Create a notebook with funny cartoons, jokes, pictures, and other things that make you laugh. Cut and paste funny things from newspapers or magazines. Print funny things from the internet. Glue them to the pages in your notebook.

Look at your notebook when you need a tickle! Laughter is good medicine. Laughter:

* Releases endorphins. This helps you feel good and can relieve pain.

* Boosts your immune system, helping you fight infection and resist disease.

* Distracts you from a stressor. When you look at the stressor again, you may view it in a different way and be better prepared to tackle it.

A Sense of Awe

Awe is that feeling you get when you look at a beautiful landscape or colorful fireworks display. Feelings of awe can boost your problem-solving abilities and make you a more critical thinker.

Spend time in nature to get a regular dose of “awe” and a mental boost!

* Go to a park or walk along a trail.

* Sit outside to eat lunch.

* Look at nature photography or landscapes.

* Visit a lake, river, or other body of water.

© American Institute for Preventive Medicine

January 23, 2026