Stress

Although stress is not a cause of heart disease, it can lead to smoking, excessive alcohol intake, overeating and lack of exercise. It’s important to recognise the warning signs for stress, and to include more relaxation time and physical activity into your life. If you think you may be at risk, please seek advice from your Healthcare professional.

10 tips to reduce stress:

  1. Practice positive thinking. Stress is often due to a fear of failure.
  2. Exercise. Get away from your desk at lunchtime and take a walk.
  3. Go solo. Spend time by yourself enjoying your own company.
  4. Get away. Organise a weekend away, either camping or pampering yourself.
  5. Listen. Enjoy the soothing sounds of relaxing music.
  6. Massage. Have a regular massage, it's the best way to relax your muscles.
  7. Become interested, develop interests outside of work. Start that course that you have been talking about.
  8. Speak up. Speak to your partner or friend to get another perspective on what is causing you stress.
  9. Breathe Easy. Take time out and concentrate on your breathing, when you are stressed your breathing quickens and becomes shallow. Find a comfortable chair, close your eyes and breathe through your nostrils filling up your ribcage with much needed oxygen, then breathe out imagining that you are releasing the stress and anxiety from your body and your mind.
  10. Enjoy life. Make the time to do the things you enjoy.