Heart Health: How managing stress helps to maintain a healthy body

The mind-body connection is often ignored by athletes and active people. The connection between our physical and mental states is pushed aside as a silly idea experienced only by people in yoga and meditation classes. However, research on the relationship between chronic stress and disease proves that the mind has a powerful effect on the health of the body.

We have all heard that stress can suppress our immune systems, making us more susceptible to illnesses like the cold and flu. More recent research on the effects of long-term, chronic stress has linked this state of the mind to very serious conditions like cancer, obesity and heart disease.

According to an article from helpguide.org:
"The body doesn’t distinguish between physical and psychological threats. When you’re stressed over a busy schedule, an argument with a friend, a traffic jam, or a mountain of bills, your body reacts just as strongly as if you were facing a life-or-death situation. If you have a lot of responsibilities and worries, your emergency stress response may be “on” most of the time. The more your body’s stress system is activated, the easier it is to trip and the harder it is to shut off."

Exercise is one of the best ways to keep stress levels under control. It is important to combine the right activity, frequency, intensity and rest into a workout routine to optimize stress relief and health benefits. I am always available to offer guidance and answer questions about this topic. I can design exercise programs that encourage awareness of the mind-body connection and promote stress relief in addition to overall health.

Developing the ability to manage stress will make us more efficient, both during workouts and in life. An awareness of the mind-body connection will promote a sense of wellbeing that is often overlooked during traditional exercise programs.

Find the American Heart Association's recommendations for managing stress at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=360