askAAMC.org «
7
Stress is likely to strike when deadlines
loom, when little annoyances pile
up or when big changes—a job loss,
divorce, illness, or death in the
family—occur in your life.
Common signs of stress include
feeling worried, irritable, depressed,
or unfocused. People who are
stressed out may also have physical
symptoms such as headaches, back
pain, trouble sleeping, digestive
problems, and tense muscles.
Long-term stress can also lead
to serious health problems like
depression, heart disease, high
blood pressure, fatigue, and obesity.
Realistically, almost no one is
able to avoid stress entirely. But
each of us can take steps to manage
stress and protect our health. See
the tips below for a few ideas from
the American Heart Association, the
American Psychological Association
and other experts.
Finally, if these methods aren’t
working as well as you’d like, it might
be time to get some professional
help. A psychologist, social worker or
other mental health professional can
help you better cope with your stress.
Fight Stress With Healthy Habits
AAMC offers classes that can help reduce stress through health education
and exercise, as well as support groups for specific health circumstances such
as diabetes, cancer and heart disease. See the calendar on pages 9, 10 and 11.
I was cured,” he says. But within a
month, he was smoking again, and
he enrolled in Joanne’s smoking
cessation program.
“It was unbelievable what I learned,”
Andy says. “It turned me right around. I
learned how cigarettes control your life,
and how the receptors in your brain make
you want more.” In addition to hard facts,
the program provided practical tips and
tools to deal with cravings. “I had never
heard about all the triggers that make you
want to smoke,” he says.
Andy quit on February 14, 2012, and
since then he feels great. “I used to get
bronchitis two or three times a year, but I
haven’t had it once this year. I have more
energy, and food tastes great now.” Even
his friends tell him he looks healthier and
has more color in his face.
Andy has returned to the smoking
cessation classes to encourage others to
take control of their lives. “You’ve got
to do it,” he says. “Life’s too short to be
killing yourself with cigarettes.”
2
weeks to
• The risk of heart attack
decreases.
• Walking is easier.
• Lungs are working better.
After
BLOOD PRESSURE
&
HEART RATE
DROP
20 min.
After
3
months
Benefits of Quitting Smoking
Try Something New!
Come to a laughter yoga class at
AAMC on Saturday, March 1, at
10:30am. Register at
AAMCevents.org
(keyword: yoga) or call
443-481-5555
.
Stressed? Ditch the Bad Habits and Try These
When life gets you down,
talk out
your
problems with someone you trust. It
could put things in perspective. An
email or letter works too!
To release some nervous energy,
nothing beats
exercise
. It can help
relieve mental and physical tension
and reduce anxiety and depression.
Exercise can also help you
sleep
.
And you need plenty of rest to cope
with stress. Do you go to bed at
about the same time every night?
Is your bedroom dark, quiet and
comfortable? Are you avoiding
distractions, like late-night TV or
computer work?
Smoking, drinking beverages
containing alcohol or caffeine, and
eating a poor diet may seem to bring
relief, but on the contrary, they can
actually increase your stress.
Avoid
these bad habits,
and you’ll cope
better in the long run.
Finally, it might sound funny,
but
try laughing out loud
. You’ll
feel better, worry less and enjoy
life more.
AAMC can help you quit smoking. Visit
askAAMC.org/smoking
or call
443-481-5366
to learn more. To find out if you
could be a candidate for AAMC’s lung screening program, visit
askAAMC.org/lung
or call
443-481-5838
.
