Entry bubble Traffic jams and your heart

By: Jess | March 19, 2009 | Category: Health

traffic jamGetting stuck in traffic is stressful, especially if you're running late for an appointment or to pick your child up from school or for an important work meeting. Unfortunately, a new study shows that our risk for a heart attack triples in the hour after we've been stuck in traffic.

For a healthy person, that might not mean much, but for someone already at an increased risk, this study could be troubling.

The study didn't say specifically what about being stuck in traffic prompted such an increase in risk, but being in a backlog seems to affect driver and passenger in the same way, and if you have angina, are elderly or are a woman, your chances increase even more.

For tips on staying mellow, no matter how long you're stuck, you can check out these resources on managing stress and keeping your heart healthy.

How to Keep Your Heart Healthy
Healthy Heart Handbook for Women
Exercise and Your Heart
Managing Stress
Win Control Over Stress in Your Life

If those don't work, you could always crank the radio and have yourself a karaoke session until traffic starts moving again.

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Entry bubble How Ya Doing?

By: Nancy | October 02, 2008 | Category: Health

Economic and political headlines. Work situations and career changes. Health and home. I don't think I can name anybody I know who hasn't experienced an increase in their stress level this past week.

stressed man with hands claspedAdult or kid, everyday life or traumatic event, stress sure is inevitable. And it's so easy to react to it unconsciously, whether you're stocking up on comfort food or battling physical symptoms like headaches or insomnia. The last time I was under a lot of stress, I developed a tic in my right eye. Half the people on the subway thought I was flirting with them.

Take a look at some of these tips on managing stress in a healthy way and then I'd love to hear: how has stress been affecting you lately, physically or mentally? What are you doing to cope with it (good or bad)? While I'm waiting to hear from you, I'll go have a cookie. And some aspirin.

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Entry bubble Go Ahead, Wear Red on Friday

By: Sam | January 30, 2008 | Category: Health

Friday is the kick-off to American Heart Month and National Wear Red Day.  So grab your favorite red dress, tie, socks, sweater, or even lipstick and show your support for research and education about women and heart disease.red dress

Heart health is an important issue for me not only as a woman but also as someone who suffers from a heart condition. As a teen, I had open-heart surgery to repair my mitral valve and to remove a bacterial infection. After more than 10 years, I am, thankfully, doing very well, but the experience made me more mindful of learning as much as I can about heart disease.

So why should you wear red? Because heart disease is not just a “man’s disease”—it’s the number one of killer of women. In fact, one in four women dies of heart disease. But even with these shocking statistics, there’s hope. No matter if you’re 20 or 60, there are steps all women can take to lower their risk and protect their heart.

Here are some to start with:

And don’t forget to help spread the word about National Wear Red Day, and please feel free to share any heart health stories that you may have.

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: cholesterol   diabetes   disease   exercise   health   heart   sam   stress  

 

Entry bubble Don’t Panic – Manage Your Holiday Anxiety

By: Joanne | December 11, 2007 | Category: Health

Hi, I’m Joanne and I’m the new Tuesday blogger. Since we’re just getting acquainted, you should know that everyone thinks that I’m calm, cool and collected at all times, but the truth is that I’m not always feeling that way on the inside.image of a woman juggling a portfolio, dinner, baby, cell phone, and a PDA

The 16 ton weight of holiday anxiety fell on me yesterday. December comes and suddenly I realize that the dates on the calendar are closer than they appear! My mind becomes unfocused and races between thoughts of the gifts, the decorations, the cleaning, the tree, the cookies and preparing Christmas dinner for 14 people! My muscles tighten, my breathing becomes shallow and suddenly I’m frozen like a deer in headlights. Serenity now! 

Every year I swear I’m going to have everything done way in advance next year. Of course I never do.

This year I’ve got a new strategy. I will accept and embrace that Christmas is rolling down the track like a freight train, bringing with it a “to do” list that’s longer than 12 elves laid end to end. I won’t try to control the external factors, but I will work on how I react to them.  I’m no stranger to anxiety – we go way back. Anxiety has made me sick a number of times in my past, and so I’m pretty aware when I’m starting to have a problem and I’ve had a lot of experience in managing anxiety. There’s a lot you can do to help yourself when you’re having an anxiety problem. I’ve tried medication, biofeedback, yoga, conscious relaxation, meditation, and exercise. I prefer to avoid the medications if I can, and I’ve found that if I give it a little effort I don’t need them.

Managing my anxiety is my old year’s resolution and it starts now. My strategy is threefold. Every day I try to get enough rest, practice morning yoga and relaxation, and  ride my bike for at least a half hour. To be truthful, I think the biking does me the most good, but I crave the am yoga and relaxation like chocolate. How could it be bad when it feels so good?

So far the plan is working and as Christmas approaches I feel like I’m rolling smoothly through the month. As a working mother of 2 small girls, I’m always looking for other ideas to relieve anxiety. What works for you? I just might want to try it some day soon. I wish us all calm and peace this holiday season.

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