Are You Managing Stress Well? Try These Three Best Practices
April Newsletter
Tackle Your Stressors With Healthy Stress Management Techniques
Even though stress is an expected part of life, it can feel like managing stressors never gets easier. The good news is, managing stress well can be done with practice and is a game-changer for your mental, emotional, and even physical health.
April recognizes Stress Awareness Month, which highlights positive ways to handle stress. The next time life starts to feel overwhelming, try one of the stress management techniques below as recommended from the American Heart Association:
- Engage in an activity that gets you moving: This could be a hobby, starting on a home project, taking a walk to get some fresh air, or exercising.
- Learn to manage your breathing well: Especially in a high-stress situation, managing your breathing can help calm your body and alleviate a panic attack. Work on inhaling and exhaling slowly. You may also consider implementing meditation or prayer into your weekly routine.
- Step away and return to the situation with a fresh mind: You may find that your perspective has started to shift as you give yourself time to think more positively.
Learn more about stress management and heart health at heart.org.
What Are The Recommended Vaccinations For Adults?
Vaccinations can help protect our bodies from harmful infection. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a vaccine is, “a preparation that is used to stimulate the body’s immune response against diseases.”
If your body is immune to a disease, you are less likely to get sick when exposed (or less likely to experience a severe response).
In honor of World Immunization Week, which runs from April 24 – 30 and raises awareness about vaccines against illness, we are rounding up the recommended vaccinations for the average U.S. adult age 19 and older:
- Flu shot (recommended annually)
- Tetanus shot (usually 1 shot and a booster every 10 years)
- Pneumococcal shot (1-2 doses in a lifetime, discuss with your doctor)
- Hepatitis B shot (2-4 doses in a lifetime, discuss with your doctor)
- COVID-19 shot and booster (recommended for ages 5+, discuss with your doctor)
Watch this video from the Mayo Clinic to better understand how COVID-19 vaccinations work.
Please note additional vaccinations may be recommended for those with certain risk factors. Talk to your doctor to determine which vaccines fit your needs.