Heart Healthy Tips to Reduce Stress

In this fast-paced world we find it’s pretty hard to slow down. Everyday stressors are the norm and although some stress is good, too much can hurt the body not only mentally but physically as well. Work, family, finances and everything in between can start to take a toll on your health. Below are tips that not only help to reduce stress but are good for heart health as well.

Healthy Heart Tip #1: Exercise

Not only is exercise a good way to relieve stress, but is great for strengthening the heart as well. Try getting some sort of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day. Focus on activities that get your heart pumping. Exercise will reduce your stress and improve your overall health short term and long term.

Healthy Heart Tip #2: Give yourself a break

It is easy to forget to give yourself time to relax when you’re busy taking care of others. Schedule time devoted to yourself and what relaxes and makes you happy. Go for a walk, read a book or take a bath. These activities can calm you and clear your head.

Healthy Heart Tip #3: Meditate

Meditation and deep breathing has the power to slow your body and mind down. Practice deep breathing such as belly breathing or meditation can help lower your heart rate. When you’re feeling overwhelmed and handling too much, meditation is a great way to slow down.

To start incorporating meditation into your daily routine. It only takes 5 minutes a day to start!. I recommend starting your morning with meditation. Find a comfortable place in your house, sitting cross legged on the floor or in a chair, placing your hands on your knees. Begin by setting a timer for 5 minutes. Close your eyes and start to focus on your breathing. You can even set an intention for your day and focus on those words, like “patience”, “confidence”, or a whole phrase like “I am thankful and grateful for my passion.” The time is yours so pick a phrase that resonates with you or have none at all and just focus on your breath. Each day you can build on your practice as meditation can help to relax, relieve stress, strengthens our intuition, and helps us to love ourselves. As Jen Sincero states, “Meditation, and being in “The Vortex”, is like riding the airstream of awesomeness.”

Healthy Heart Tip #4: Break your habits

Consistent stress can lead to unhealthy habits such as drinking too much alcohol and smoking. Although you may feel these substances help you cope in the moment, the long term damage far outweighs the short term benefits. Both smoking and alcohol can cause heart damage. Turn to alternatives if you’re reaching for a cigarette or a drink and reach out to family and friends to help you break the habit.

Healthy Heart Tip #5: Let it go

It can be hard to accept that things in life don’t go exactly as planned. Practice letting go of what you can’t control and accepting that the future is unknown. It is easy to stress about the future. Remind yourself to live in the moment.

Healthy Heart Tip #6: Massage Therapy

Massage therapy is another alternative treatment that is beneficial in lowering stress. The treatment has been shown to reduce heart rate, lower blood pressure and increase blood circulation. Through manual manipulation, massage can relax not only the body but the mind as well.

Healthy Heart Tip #7: Acupuncture

Saving the best for last! Acupuncture is an effective alternative medicine that can help improve heart health as well as lower stress. By the specific placement of needles on acupuncture points, the treatment works to treat the entire body back to optimal health. Acupuncture can help reduce blood pressure, decrease stress and improve sleep (and much more!)

If you want to improve your heart health and quality of life. Starting Point specializes in chronic cases. To learn more about how we can help your case, give our office a call today at (425) 686-4498 to schedule your initial consultation.

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