If you have or had a heart problem, you know that reducing stress is the key to keeping heart healthy and safe. How to avoid the pressures of daily life and even concerns about your condition? It is an understandable but negative vicious circle, and so we offer some clues to that stress does not affect the health of your heart.
Stress is a condition characteristic of our modern societies and that can affect health in different ways. For example, it is known that lowers the body’s defenses and increases the chances of developing diabetes, digestive problems and heart. So if you have or have had heart problems such as heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension or high cholesterol, and then you might worry you will not be stressed out, which in itself can stress you out even more.
What can you do to break this vicious circle? The first is to recognize that there can always be a stressful situation, there are things you cannot avoid but you can learn to distinguish what puts you on edge and try to remove it from your life and if they present, be prepared for the best way to face these situations that stressed both to manage them better.
How can you do? There are many ways to reduce tension in the body and mind. Some choose to attend yoga classes, others prefer to go for a swim and some just want to spend all of Sunday in bed listening to music without thinking about anything. You yourself must find what the formula that works best for you. So, here are some options that will help you put together a strategy to reduce the worries of everyday life.
- Exercise: It is good for the heart and stress. It helps maintain a good physical condition, releases the accumulated energy and tension of the muscles, reduces the production of stress hormones and increases the production of endorphins that generate wellbeing. At least 30 minutes are recommended per day, five days a week, of moderate to vigorous activity. From running or biking, to do a little walk in the park they can help you. Of course, if you have a heart condition in particular, it is important that before starting or changing your exercise routine so check with your doctor, so he can tell you if there is something to avoid.
- Relaxation and meditation: Yoga, tai chi, biofeedback, stretching and breathing exercises are also good choices. When you release the tension relax muscles, your heart stops beating so fast, you breathe quieter and rest the mind.
- Massage: They are of various kinds, whether therapeutic or relaxing, all help reduce stress and pain in the muscles, reducing stress and anxiety.
- Sleep and rest: They are key to stay healthy and strong and similarly that the mood is always kept up. Lack of sleep, however, raises levels of the stress hormone.
- Social Life: Stay in touch with family and friends, start a new activity and helping others. All those things can distract your attention from the problems and help you feel better about yourself.
- Avoid tensions: Learn to distinguish what or who increase your stress and try to avoid those situations (or those persons).
- Psychotherapy: When you cannot handle the stress and / or feel overwhelmed (a), you may need advice or assistance of a qualified professional (a) to help you identify the causes and effects of your stress, and how best to handle it.
And along with any strategy you choose, do not stop laughing. Laughter is much more than move the muscles of the face and body also releases endorphins, which are responsible for the sense of well being and happiness and causes positive effects on your body, and stimulate the heart, lungs, circulation and muscle relaxation, improve the functioning of the immune system and increase the sense of personal satisfaction.