Last time we talked about how stress can cause headaches, neck and pack pain along with many other serious health issues. This month lets get into practical ways to decrease these effects of stress on your body.

Lets look at some different categories of stress management.

A recent study showed people who view current stress as bad for them are more harmed by that stress. The opposite was the case for people who viewed it as positive. For example, if you are suffering financial hardship and you view whats happening as a path to avoid such problems in the future, the stress is acting as a positive by motivating you to change. Also, its common to view potential dangers as more dangerous than they really are. Thinking realistically about the worst likely outcomes can reduce the stress.

Much of the problem with stress is caused by having too many stressors. If a job is the chief cause of your stress, find a less stressful one. If a marriage or relationship proves beyond repair, get out of it.

Fifteen minutes of cardiovascular activity three or four times per week, reaching the level of pulse and breathing rates where you can barely maintain a conversation, will significantly reduce the negative effects of stress.

Achieving a relaxed mental state for 15 to 30 minutes a few times per week is a very popular stress management strategy. Smartphone apps, articles and books provide simple ways to achieve a meditative state.

Many stressful situations can be improved by decreasing some stressful aspect of the situation. For example, a financial problem might be solved by learning better money management or gaining new job skills. A relationship problem might be solved by personal improvement or counseling.

It may also help to achieve any goal you consider worthwhile. For example, if you have a financial problem and you help others as part of a service organization because you value helping those less fortunate, this activity will decrease the negative effects of your financial stress.

Stress has been called the silent killer for good reason, because many of the harmful effects of stress are hidden until it is too late. Incorporating good stress management can make a big difference.

Dr. Stephen Trapani, DC, has been a practicing chiropractor in Walla Walla for more than 30 years, specializing in care for acute and chronic neck and back pain. He can be reached at drtrapani@charter.net.

The rest is here:
Attitude, exercise among ways to cut stress-caused ills - Walla Walla Union-Bulletin