Cancer Articles (Dr. S.N White)

Can exercise reduce stress?  Physical activity is a good way to reduce stress and depression. From walking to swimming, no matter how gentle or how challenging, physical activity is a great healer. Most of us know from experience that exercise makes us feel better psychologically, but scientific support for this belief appeared in Cardiac Rehabilitation : Clinical Practice Guideline, published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 1995. A panel of experts reviewed various studies and concluded that “exercise training enhances measures of psychological and social functioning . . . including measures of emotional stress.” It is known that exercise stimulates production of endorphins, which promote a sense of well-being in the body. Find some time for some physical activity, even if only for a few minutes or for a short walk, each and every day.

How can I reduce stress?  Once you have identified the stresses in your life, there are two options available to you to reduce or eliminate them. The first option is to remove the stressful elements from your life. If working with a certain colleague is on your list of stress inducers, you could talk to your supervisor about the problem, ask to be transferred, or find a new job. If traffic continually has you on edge, you could look into participating in a car pool or taking public transportation. The other option is to change the belief that working with this particular colleague is stressful, or that traffic congestion causes stress. There are various ways to work on such attitudinal changes. Affirmation, in which you mentally rehearse the actions and attitudes you wish to adopt, can be helpful. Affirmations are believed by some to “reprogram” negative beliefs already established in your mind. Visualization, in which you imagine the scenario you’d like to become your reali...