Stress from debt really can be a pain in the neck!

In the business section of The Arizona Republic today there was an article entitled "Health poll: Stress from debt really can be a pain in the neck". It goes on to say, in part:

"The stress from deepening debt is becoming a major pain in the neck- and the back and the head and the stomach- for millions of Americans. When people are dealing with mountains of debt, they're more likely to report health problems, according to an Associated Press AOL Health poll." Read the full story here.

Even if you are not suffering through a major event, such as a foreclosure, even small amount of stress over a prolonged period of time can take its toll on your body. Your body's immune system can become compromised, resulting in feelings of fatigue and increased sickness. Tension builds up in your muscles, reducing your body's circulation and its ability to deliver nutrition to tissues and remove waste products.

If the added stress continues untreated, it has been linked to more serious ailments, such as ulcers, severe depression, even heart attacks. People often suffer from an inability to concentrate and have trouble sleeping.

What can you do to avoid this fate? Start taking steps to reduce your stress levels. When you are under high levels of stress it is easy to fall into poor eating habits and collapsing on the couch at the end of a long day. Make it a point to eat more nutritious meals, take the stairs instead of the elevator, go for a walk after dinner. It will improve your body's ability to deal with the increased stress levels.

Practice breathing exercises. When you feel yourself getting anxious, slow your breathing. Take a deep, slow breath in, hold it for a second, then slowly let it out. Try to increase the number of seconds it takes you to inhale and to exhale.

Get a massage. Massage can help relieve muscle tension and anxiety, it helps boost immune function, can help you sleep better, calms your mind and induces feelings of well-being. The effects of receiving a massage are cumulative when received at least once a month. Not only will you be better equipped to deal with the stress in your life, you won't end up with the added stress of health problems down the road. So, go ahead and get a massage- it's good for you!

Margo Zelenski
The Massage & Esthetics Studio
480-874-8000
www.TheMassageStudio.com