Coping with stress - NHS video

From NHS Choices YouTube channel:

There are many ways of coping with stress. Professor Cary Cooper provides some techniques for managing stress, such as exercising and using relaxation techniques, and explains who you can talk to if you're feeling under pressure.

Get more tips and advice about dealing with stress here: http://nhs.uk/livewell/stressmanagement

Tips for managing stress:

- Take a few deep breaths
- Get plenty of exercise
- Socialize - don't stress alone, talk to someone and have a laugh
- Get out - go to the park

Participation in sport is associated with a with a 20—40% reduction in all-cause mortality compared with non-participation. Exercise might also be considered as a fifth vital sign, according to the Lancet: http://goo.gl/gyxYf

If nothing else helps, consider this: Chewing gum may reduce stress and improve memory

Related reading:

Children chewing xylitol gum were 25% less likely to develop acute ear infections. NYTimes, 2011.

Factors that Promote Positive Adaptation to Stress and Adversity

The phenomenon of resilience reflects positive adaptation despite contexts of risk, adversity, or trauma.

Factors that promote positive adaptation to stress and adversity include the following:

- self-esteem
- optimism
- internal control
- coping aimed at acceptance
- coping aimed at seeking emotional support
- social contacts



Tips for managing stress (2-minute BBC video):

- Take a few deep breaths
- Get plenty of exercise
- Socialize - don't stress alone, talk to someone and have a laugh
- Get out - go to the park

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/brainsmart

References:

Psychological and Social Factors that Promote Positive Adaptation to Stress and Adversity in the Adult Life Cycle. M. Guadalupe Jiménez Ambriz, María Izal and Ignacio Montorio. Journal of Happiness Studies, 2011.

Stress fractures

From a 2011 review in the journal American Family Physician:

Stress fractures are common injuries in athletes and military recruits. These typically affect lower extremities.

Symptoms of stress fractures

Stress fractures should be considered in patients who present with tenderness and/or edema after a recent increase in activity or repeated activity with limited rest.

The Barefoot Professor says barefoot running could minimize injuries although this approach is still experimental:



The differential diagnosis of stress fractures includes:

- tendinopathy
- compartment syndrome
- nerve or artery entrapment syndrome
- medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) can be distinguished from tibial stress fractures by diffuse tenderness along the length of the posteromedial tibial shaft and a lack of edema

Diagnosis of stress fractures

When stress fracture is suspected, plain radiography should be obtained initially and, if negative, may be repeated after 2-3 weeks for greater accuracy.

If an urgent diagnosis is needed, triple-phase bone scintigraphy (bone scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) should be considered. Both modalities have a similar sensitivity, but MRI has greater specificity.

Treatment of stress fractures

Treatment of stress fractures consists of:

- activity modification - nonweight-bearing crutches if needed for pain relief
- analgesics
- pneumatic bracing

After the pain is resolved, patients may gradually increase their level of activity.

Surgical consultation may be appropriate for patients with:

- stress fractures in high-risk locations
- nonunion
- recurrent stress fractures

References:

Stress fractures: diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Patel DS, Roth M, Kapil N. Am Fam Physician. 2011 Jan 1;83(1):39-46.

The Barefoot Professor says barefoot running could minimize injuries

Related reading:

The Barefoot Running Revolution - INFOGRAPHIC  http://goo.gl/7SUGs

Mayo Clinic Offers Dietary Supplements, Stress Management, Massage and Acupuncture in the Mall of America

Cleveland Clinic has a Wellness Institute. In another push to the realm of wellness, Mayo Clinic now offers one-on-one consults with Complementary and Integrative Medicine physicians on campus and where the customers are - right in the Mall of the America. See this 3-part video series below:



Brent A. Bauer, M.D. Dr. Bauer is a physician in the Department of General Internal Medicine and supervisor of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine Research program at Mayo Clinic.



Nancy Drackley, a physical therapist, massage therapist, and supervisor of massage therapy at Mayo Clinic.



Tony Chon, M.D, a physician in the Department of General Internal Medicine and a member of the Complementary and Integrative Medicine team at Mayo Clinic, discusses acupuncture.

The link between stress and heart disease

In this video from the Cleveland Clinic, Steven Nissen, MD, talks about the important lesson war has taught us about stress and its effect on the heart. One of the best ways to manage stress is regular exercise.



Tips for managing stress (watch the 2-minute BBC video embedded below)

- Take a few deep breaths
- Get plenty of exercise
- Socialize - don't stress alone, talk to someone and have a laugh
- Get out - go to the park



Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/brainsmart 

Participation in sport is associated with a with a 20—40% reduction in all-cause mortality compared with non-participation. Exercise might also be considered as a fifth vital sign, according to the Lancet: http://goo.gl/gyxYf

 If nothing else helps, consider this: Chewing gum may reduce stress and improve memory

3 elements of good health: exercise, nutrition and stress reduction

Mayo Clinic video: Looking to start the new year off healthy? Dr. Larry Bergstrom, an integrative medicine specialist at Mayo Clinic in Arizona, explains the 3 elements of good health:

1. exercise
2. nutrition
3. stress reduction.

Participation in sport is associated with a with a 20—40% reduction in all-cause mortality compared with non-participation. Exercise might also be considered as a fifth vital sign, according to the Lancet: http://goo.gl/gyxYf

Related reading:

Minimum amount of physical activity for reduced mortality and extended life expectancy: 15 minutes a day or 90 minutes a week. Lancet, 2011.

Forming a healthy habit is a marathon, not a sprint - start small, the 66th time's the charm. Chicago Tribune, 2011.

Tips for managing stress (2-minute BBC video)

Managing Stress - Brainsmart - BBC video.

- Take a few deep breaths
- Get plenty of exercise
- Socialize - don't stress alone, talk to someone and have a laugh
- Get out - go to the park

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/brainsmart