Healthy Habits,Ha - Healthy Life

Healthy Habits, Ha

Brought to you by the Clark County Health Department. Your source for trusted information on various health, wellness, and safety topics!

By Katie Cook, BSN, RN

The Clark County Health Department is happy to promote health and wellness to our county residents. In this twice-monthly column, we hope to provide readers with reliable health information. This series will be on heart health, including what it is, protective factors against heart disease, and habits to keep us happy and healthy.

This week we talk about another heavy hitter, stress. Now, not all stress is bad. Our around for all of these years. to stress. for hobbies you enjoy.

fight or flight response is triggered by stress, and it is what has kept the human species However, stress is subjective and dependent upon the person experiencing it. People can experience stress differently and can also respond differently to it. What may be stressful for me may not faze someone else. While it is generally societally acceptable for people to feel stressed when something negative happens, it is important to remember that 'happy' life events like promotions, marriage, or the birth of a child can also lead Unchecked stress has a number of negative ramifications on our health. It can lead to an increase in bad habits like overeating, smoking, or drinking. Stress can also rear its ugly head in the form of physical issues, such as body aches, gastrointestinal issues, headaches, sleep issues, fatigue, and more. Prolonged stress may lead to increased heart rate, blood pressure, inflammation, and a reduced blood flow to the heart.

Psychologically it can cause fatigue, forgetfulness, and mood changes, and may lead to depression.

Here we go again with my favorite part, what we can DO about it.

•Learn what your stress triggers are, and reduce or manage them.

•Learn to cope with your stress. Make a list of things you can and cannot change and focus on the things you can. If you cannot say that a problem will matter in five years, don't give it more than five minutes of your time.

• Consult with your physician or counselor. Medications are not always the answer, but they may help if your stress is causing you anxiety or depression.

•Participate in self-care activities like exercising, meditation, and setting aside time

•Maintain a positive attitude. You can do this by starting a gratitude journal, writing in a diary, or spending time in prayer.

•Spend time with family and friends. Maintaining social connections is a great way to ward off depression, and if we can spend time with others who may be going through the same things as us, it creates stronger bonds and decreases feelings of isolation.

•Remember, you are NOT alone. Everything is 'figure out-able.' If your stress is leading to anxiety or depression and you are having thoughts of suicide or self-harm, please utilize these resources: Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: 988 Hopeline (Texting): 741741 24 Hour AODA & Mental Health Crisis Line: 715-743-3400 or 800-863-3560