April 2023 Health Tip

by J. Renee Livsey, RN-BC |  April 1, 2023

 
In the month of April, we are recognizing National Stress Awareness Month. Stress management is vital to our overall health, and this year it is particularly important, with the lasting effects of the pandemic and getting back into social situations. Learning to cope with stress and finding healthy ways to deal with stress can go a long way in living a healthy and positive life. We all experience stress – but it may affect us in different ways. For example, stress can cause feelings of worry and fear, difficulty concentrating, muscle tension, back pain, heart palpitations and chest pain, Irritability toward others, fatigue and difficulty sleeping. These are indicators that we are not managing stress effectively.
 
When you are in a stressful situation, specific stress hormones rush into your bloodstream leading to an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and glucose levels – this can be good in an emergency (fight or flight). But if you are overly stressed for an extended time, it can put your health at risk. Unchecked stress can contribute to many health problems, such as headaches, upset stomach, blood pressure elevations, heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and depression.

A list of encouraging ways to manage stress and keep your stress levels in check include: 

• Pray and trust in God to calm our anxious hearts with his Spirit
•  Avoid drugs and alcohol, as this can create additional problems and increase the stress you are already feeling
• Try therapeutic massage and aromatherapy 
• Affirm what is right with your life instead of dwelling on what is wrong – know the difference between what you can and cannot change
• Exercise – when you exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins which trigger a positive feeling in the body
• Get proper rest, eat a well-balanced diet, and get regular health checks with your primary care provider.

 
Life often presents us with stressful situations, but we can learn to manage stress and live a healthy, happy life full of God’s blessings.