There’s a humorous scene in a popular, comedy film where boomer-aged Jack Nicholson’s character, Harry, is rushed into the emergency room clutching his chest thinking he’s having a heart attack. The young ER doctor asks him, “what were you doing before the pain started? ” to which he answers, “arguing with a woman”. The doctor … Read more
At this time of year with several big holidays approaching, like many of my patients, you may feel overwhelmed with too much to do and are starting to feel cranky and out of sorts. Along with all the usual responsibilities of jobs, family routines, etc, this season brings the added pressure of financial concerns from … Read more
With the advancement of modern medicine it’s become obvious to the health community that your mental and physical well-being is strongly linked together. The good news is that recognizing this problem is leading to better treatment in dealing with stress. But first I want you to understand what chemical reactions your body goes through when you are under stress.
In a long-term, large-scale study, researchers periodically interviewed more than 10,000 participants about their levels of stress at work. People who reported having a high demand job along with little authority to make decisions and a low level of support were more likely to become obese. Intermittent stress at work increased the chance of obesity by 17 percent or more. Ongoing work stress increased the chances of becoming obese by up to 73 percent.
Increased flexibility provides you with a number of health benefits. When you are more flexible, you feel better. Your body works better. You are less likely to become injured. You can exercise without discomfort and without getting too sore the next day. Increasing your flexibility through stretching does many good things. It increases your range of motion, so you are able to move with less resistance and with less energy.
When you have a couple hours to yourself, what is the perfect way to relax and recharge? When I ask my male patients this question, I hear answers like, “watch the game and have a beer,” or “shoot hoops with the guys.” When I ask the same question of my female patients, they laugh out loud. Then, they explain that having ten minutes to themselves, much less a few hours, is an extremely rare occurrence.