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Summer Stress

© Gretchen Malik

Your kids are home, the weather is hot and it seems like all your friends and neighbors are going on vacation. It's summertime and living harmoniously ain't easy. As summer's heat reaches high temperatures, spending time with your kids can easily be the spark that turns little annoyances into big blow-ups. It's tough enough trying to get a hundred things done all at once but when the air conditioning and things become that much tougher.

Stress affects everybody everyday, but that in itself isn't a bad thing. Stress is the response to physical, chemical, emotional or environmental factors. Whenever there's a sudden need for change or quick response, our bodies initiate a cascade of chemical reactions that sends our heart racing and heightens all our senses. In a positive context, stresses can help keep our bodies strong and minds alert, but too much chronic stress in a negative context can result in can big trouble.

Chronic stress has been linked to high blood pressure and heart disease. New research from the American Heart Association suggests that people whose blood pressure spikes in reaction to life's daily annoyances develop blockages in their arteries faster than those who can relax, making stress as harmful as bad cholesterol. And for those that do not handle stress well can suffer asthma attacks or set off a heart attack. How you handle stress can lead to an entirely different set of health problems. Losing your sense of humor is another sign of an unhealthy amount of stress in your life, as are increased angry outbursts. Fortunately there are a variety of natural, drug-free approaches to stress relief.

1. Massage therapy has been shown to be an effective remedy for daily stress.

2. Aromatherapy. Results of using aromatherapy consistently indicate that it helps aid in relaxation and easing stress. Scents of lavender and citrus are two of the most often used for stress-relief.

3. Exercise. Yoga works the fastest to lower the blood pressure of those people subject to mental stress. Whenever you feel yourself becoming overwhelmed by daily events, stop and breathe deeply in through your nose and blow slowly out through your mouth to the count of 8. Practice this regularly throughout the day and you'll find yourself better able to defuse your stressful moments.

4. Aerobic exercise. Make physical activity a regular part of your life and you'll be amazed at how quickly you'll feel better. Aerobic activity, in particular, can reduce anxiety, depression, and tension. Brisk walking or bicycling for 20 to 30 minutes three to five times a week may be all that you need to help you manage stress more effectively.

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