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National Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention (NCP)
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Library of Wellness Messages
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- Living a healthful lifestyle pays big dividends in one's well-being - - Wellness Works!
- It is said that one's mental health comes from a balance of love, work and play in one's life. Have you gotten out your balance scales lately?
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- Just what is Wellness, anyway? Wellness is a balanced integration of mind, body, and spirit in the pursuit of enhanced health and well-being. "Try it, you'll like it!"
- Physical activity is not exactly a panacea for whatever ails you. Failing that, however, it is about the next best thing! Stress is a killer! It not only results in job, marriage, and personal "burnout", but is thought to contribute to immune system suppression, cardiac sudden death syndrome, other cardiac dysfunctions, fatigue, depression, and more! Relax.....let it go....... Live….
- Stress is a killer! It not only results in job, marriage, and personal "burnout", but is thought to contribute to immune system suppression, cardiac sudden death syndrome, other cardiac dysfunctions, fatigue, depression, and more! Relax.....let it go....... Live…
- Instant stress relief! Stop, take several deep breaths, hold each one for a few seconds and then let it out slowly. Notice the relief of tension when you exhale...
- Eating a diet low in fat is probably not best done all at once, because such sudden changes seldom become ingrained habits. However, as one alters their eating habits over time, high fat food becomes less and less appetizing, and one may find oneself actually craving healthy food! Imagine that!!
- Wellness is more than just the absence of disease. Wellness represents an "enhanced" state of health and well being, and provides a big cushion between you and disease. It feels good too!
- A number of studies have suggested that optimism and having a positive attitude are health habits, just like good diet, exercise, etc.! Have you done an attitude check lately?
- Research shows that walking turns out to be a really good form of aerobic exercise! You can get most of the health benefits from walking 30 minutes or more daily as you do from more vigorous kinds of exercise. No more excuses--- DO IT!!
- As we all know too well, the hassles of life can often get you down. One way of keeping that in check is to have a "Passion". Have something that you really just love to do, something that you "live for" or "live to do". It gives you something to look forward to as you endure the hardships of everyday life. What's your pleasure?
- "Wellness" includes being a nonsmoker. "Wellness" includes using alcohol only in moderation, if at all. "Wellness" includes eating right by eating light. "Wellness" includes getting lots of exercise. "Wellness" includes keeping stress at a tolerable level. "Wellness" includes having some balance in your life. "Gosh, this sounds like work!" So why should we do all these things? Do them because you want to feel good!
- Robert Ornstein, Ph.D. and David Sobel, M.D. wrote a book a few years ago called "Healthy Pleasures". Through their research, they contend that experiencing simple pleasure helps us maintain and improve our health and well being. This no doubt operates through the reduction of stress, just as laughter does. Have you let yourself experience much pleasure lately?
- A study conducted at Stanford University showed that sedentary people over age 55 (who are those most likely to have problems sleeping) who then began exercising reported that they slept an average of 1 hour longer each night, and that they fell asleep in half the time compared to those who remained sedentary. Have you been getting your physical activity?
- Keeping our weight under control is something many of us struggle with. Here is a tip: Eat Slowly! When a person eats slowly, they usually eat less than they otherwise would, enjoy it more, and feel satisfied. It's a "win-win" thing to do!
- It has been found that anger and hostility play a role in the development of heart disease. A longitudinal study published in the journal CIRCULATION in 1996 using VA patients who had no known heart disease showed that men who have high levels of ongoing anger were 3 times more likely to subsequently be diagnosed with heart disease. The lesson for us is to let go of our anger, relax, and perhaps take things a little less seriously…
- Experiencing pleasure is good for our health! Besides just "planning for pleasure" by arranging enjoyable experiences in advance, be sure to stop and "smell the roses". Take notice of the many small things each day that bring pleasure, such as eating flavorful food, a warm shower, being with good friends, and other sensual experiences. Being acutely aware of these small daily experiences heightens their pleasure…. It's a health habit!
- Studies show that Americans are chronically short of sleep. A study published in THE LANCET demonstrated adverse effects when healthy young male volunteers were only allowed 4 hours of sleep. Their glucose tolerance was almost 40% lower, and acute insulin response was impaired. The normal rise in thyrotropin at night was decreased, while plasma cortisol was abnormally high in the afternoon/evening and slower to clear. Sympathetic nervous system activation was also increased. The endocrine functions of these young men resembled risk profiles for diabetes and hypertension, and also those associated with advanced age. How about it…, let's get some rest!
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Experiencing pleasure is good for our health! Besides just "planning for pleasure" by arranging enjoyable experiences in advance, be sure to stop and "smell the roses". Take notice of the many small things each day that bring pleasure, such as eating flavorful food, a warm shower, being with good friends, and other sensual experiences. Being acutely aware of these small daily experiences heightens their pleasure…. It's a health habit!
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Studies show that Americans are chronically short of sleep. A study published in THE LANCET demonstrated adverse effects when healthy young male volunteers were only allowed 4 hours of sleep. Their glucose tolerance was almost 40% lower, and acute insulin response was impaired. The normal rise in thyrotropin at night was decreased, while plasma cortisol was abnormally high in the afternoon/evening and slower to clear. Sympathetic nervous system activation was also increased. The endocrine functions of these young men resembled risk profiles for diabetes and hypertension, and also those associated with advanced age. How about it…, let's get some rest!
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Experiencing pleasure is good for our health! Besides just "planning for pleasure" by arranging enjoyable experiences in advance, be sure to stop and "smell the roses". Take notice of the many small things each day that bring pleasure, such as eating flavorful food, a warm shower, being with good friends, and other sensual experiences. Being acutely aware of these small daily experiences heightens their pleasure…. It's a health habit!
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| Reviewed/Updated Date: October 29, 2007 |
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