The essential elements to improve the health of your heart are diet, exercise, smoking and stress.
Stress Relievers – Sure ways to reduce stress
The incidence of stress and stress related disorders are on the rise. Though there are a number of stress relievers, different stress management programs usually come as a package containing various options. A stress reliever can be of any form.It can be a drug, an exercise, a herb, a game or even a food supplement. Each and every option has its own merits.
Drugs are very effective in relieving stress. The positive effect is faster and can be assured. But it is always with a price. Drugs used to treat stress including the associated mental problems are known to cause side effects. This is one reason for the growth of all the alternative stress relievers. A few examples of drugs are Benzodiazepines, Phenothiazines and Tri cyclic group of anti depressants.
Psychotherapy is another effective stress reliever. The person's problem is assessed and solutions provided. One of the important therapies is Cognitive behaviour therapy. This helps a person to understand his problem and perceive it in a different way so that it does not affect them.
Diet is important: Fresh fruits and vegetables like, mango, tomatoes, broccoli, oranges and spinach, vitamin supplements like B complex, C and E are helpful in relieving stress. They act by neutralising free radicals which cause extensive damage to the tissues and by boosting the immune system. Chocolate is becoming popular as stress relievers because of the magnesium contained in it which acts as a tranquilizer. Skimmed milk provides less fat and more minerals and relieves stress. Omega fatty acids prevent heart ailments caused by stress.
Deep breathing replenishes the body with more oxygen and removes excess carbon dioxide and lactate reversing most of the effects of stress. It is very simple to do.
Probably the best method of sress relief is exercise, read some of the Heartsavers exercise articles for more information.