Health Tip: Preparing for a Stress Test

(HealthDay News) -- A cardiac stress test gives doctors an idea of how your heart functions at rest and when it's under "stress" from activities such as treadmill exercise.

The U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says you can prepare for the test by:

• Dressing comfortably in workout clothes, including footwear designed for exercise.
• Checking with your doctor to see if you need to avoid food and water before the test.
• Checking with your doctor, if you're diabetic, to see if you should adjust your medication before the test.
• Asking your doctor if you need to avoid caffeinated beverages, certain foods or over-the-counter medications before the test.
• Bringing any inhaler you use to the test and letting the doctor know about it.

12 Ways to Fight Stress and Help Your Heart

Can stress hurt your heart?

By Amanda Gardner
The evidence is piling up that the answer is—yes, stress is bad for your ticker.

“There are studies to show that stress is comparable to other risk factors that we traditionally think of as major, like hypertension, poor diet, and lack of exercise,” says Kathi Heffner, PhD, assistant professor of psychiatry at the Rochester Center for Mind-Body Research at the University of Rochester Medical Center in New York.

Here are 12 steps you can take to fight stress and protect your heart.  More....:  Health.com

Dr. Oz's Holiday Stress Management Checklist

Eliminating stress doesn't necessarily mean pouring a nice hot bubble bath. Try these holiday stress-busting strategies to avoid letting your worries rule your mind-and your life. From YOU Stress Less: The Owner's Manual for Regaining Balance in Your Life by Dr. Michael F. Roizen, MD, and Mehmet C. Oz, MD.


Stress Strategies
Identify the source of your stress. Though some sources are easy to identify, it may be difficult to really determine what's bothering you. Lashing out at your kids may be a reaction not to what your kids did but to an extra assignment piled on at work. The first step to managing your stress is pinpointing the culprit.

Focus on the moment. Though it can be hard, you'll have better stress management by being "mindful"-that is, really paying attention to the present and trying to get out of the gears of the past and the future (both of which are major sources of stress). That means especially noticing the things that you ignore, like your breath, body sensations, and emotions. One way to practice living in the moment: the body scan. More...Shine from Yahoo

The Science

The latest cutting-edge research proves your mind can heal your body. Here's how:
Your body dials down stress. Dr. Benson's research has found that mind/body practices—meditation, yoga, tai chi, deep breathing, visualization—all elicit the relaxation response, quelling the release of stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline. Your heart slows, blood pressure falls and digestion eases.  Sourced By: Yahoo Health

5 WAYS TO MANAGE STRESS

Being totally well is also being healthy in every aspect of our life. We may have a delicious meal every day, an exercise activity to perform and an active social life. But we must not forget that there are still many things that could make us unhealthy. One of the problems usually encountered by people is stress. Stress could also be detrimental to one’s health. Once a person feels stressed, the physical and emotional aspects of life is totally affected, if not manage properly. This is why; more seminars and workshops are now open to teach people how to properly manage stress.
     A good burst of stress can be good for you, it jolts your body into a repair mode and can even help you relieve stress, but when your stress is chronic and unmanageable, it could make you unhealthy and may affect many aspects of your life. More...Wellness.com