Best Ways To Enjoy Life, Reduce Stress And Stay Heart Healthy All At Once
While medical researchers and heart doctors aren't exactly sure how stress increases the chances of getting heart disease, experts agree that there is a link between high levels of stress and cardiac problems. Heart doctors recommend reducing stress to lower the risk of heart attack. While there are many methods for reducing stress, these suggestions have the added benefit of being fun.
Laugh
Laughter is known to soothe, comfort, relieve pain and boost your immune system all at once. Find ways to laugh each day. Tell funny stories to your friends or watch a comedy show on television. Reading newspaper comics or sign up for a joke email service. Whatever it is you choose to do, make sure it's laugh-out-loud enjoyable.
Get a Pet
Pet ownership brings meaning to the lives of many people. The bond shared between pet and owner can instill feelings of happiness and pleasure in pet owners. In this roundabout way, owning pets can relieve stress. In addition, many pet owners also get exercise when they take their pet for a walk or playing with their pet. Since exercise is heart-healthy, pet ownership is good for your heart in more ways than just one.
Have Sex
Sex doesn't just feel good, it can be good for you as well. The feeling of connectedness and intimacy that comes from having sex with your spouse or romantic companion is both stress-relieving and emotionally validating. Sex is also good exercise, so like pet ownership, it's heart healthy in multiple ways.
Get Artsy
Self-expression is relaxing, and for many people, creates a feeling of peace. Self-expression takes many forms. Sculpting, painting, drawing, writing and making music are all common ways that people express their feelings through the arts.
However, there are a many ways that a person can express their feelings. Making craft projects, baking, decorating around the house, and gardening in the yard are all ways to engage in self-expression. To relieve stress, take time out of your week every week to do at least one expressive thing.
Get Enough Sleep
There's a direct correlation between stress response and lack of sleep. The better you sleep at night, the more able you'll be to handle the stress that comes into your life. Also, sleeping on your problems can sometimes lead to sudden realizations and solutions, which is also stress-relieving. Clear time in your schedule to get enough sleep so that you'll feel rested and relaxed throughout the day.
For more ways to reduce stress and stay heart healthy, talk to a general practitioner or heart doctor, such as those found at Cardiology Associates Of Schenectady PC.