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SELF-CARE
Stress LessRELAX MORE, Yourhealthdependsonit.
WE ALL HAVE STRESS. Things like bills, job worries and health Uncontrolled stress can have a big impact on the body,
concerns can cause strain and anxiety, putting a damper on your weakening the immune system and contributing to conditions
daily life. But stress doesn’t just affect your mental state—it also such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, insomnia and migraines,
affects your physical health. as well as colds and the flu. Paul Dale, MD, Chief of Surgical
Oncology at Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center and
“If stress is not managed properly, it eventually depletes the Director of the Atrium Health Peyton Anderson Cancer Center,
energy sources that keep us healthy,” says Sarah Choo-Yick, MD, says that stress can be a trigger for cancer to recur in patients
family medicine physician at Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care who were in remission.
West Macon. “Stress can contribute to many health problems.”
“Stress can alter the immune system, allowing cancer cells
THE DANGERS OF STRESS that were dormant to become prolific again,” Dr. Dale says. “Also,
patients who are less stressed do better with chemo and other
Why does stress happen? treatments and have fewer side effects.”
“Stress is the body’s natural reaction to internal and external
HOW TO RELAX
triggers,” Dr. Choo-Yick says. “It activates the fight-or-flight
survival response in the body, causing high levels of cortisol “Sometimes, situations that create stress are unavoidable,”
and adrenaline to be released. This increases the heart rate and Dr. Choo-Yick says. “We are better off learning to accept those
blood pressure.” situations we can’t change and master managing our stress.”
To learn how to stop stress from taking over your life (and
your health), Dr. Choo-Yick recommends following these steps:
» Determine what is causing your stress, and keep a journal of
how the situations, people or events make you feel.
» Simplify your life by deciding who or what is most important
to you and saying goodbye to the things that zap your energy.
“This will make you feel more rested, and you’ll have more
time to do the things you enjoy,” Dr. Choo-Yick says.
» Focus on healthy habits, including eating a balanced diet,
exercising, getting plenty of sleep and staying hydrated.
“These factors can boost your health and protect your body
from the harms of stress,” she says.
» Start a daily relaxation routine that includes laughter, deep
breathing, listening to music and physical activity.
In addition, Dr. Dale recommends figuring out what activities
relax you the most and making time for those each day.
“It can be as simple as playing with your dog, going fishing
or being with family,” he says. “Meditation and other relaxation
techniques can help as well. Whatever your happy place is, the
more you’re there, the less stress you have.”
NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE ABOUT YOUR STRESS? FIND
A PROVIDER AT WWW.NAVICENTHEALTH.ORG.
6 navicenthealth.org | FALL 2021
