Let’s face it—stress is a part of life. Filled with everything from work deadlines to after-school commitments to unexpected health events, our day can turn from relaxed to stressful in a second. That’s why our team at AFC Urgent Care Knoxville wants to give you the tools to help manage stress before it starts to take a negative toll on your health. The Unhealthy Side of Stress Stress doesn’t just wreak havoc on your day. It can also lead to a number of health conditions, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Insomnia
- Muscle pain
- Obesity
Fortunately, you can reduce your risk of suffering from the aforementioned conditions by learning better, healthier ways to manage your stress when it occurs.
Take Action Against Stress For starters,
pick up a new hobby. When we’re young, we’re more apt to be involved in sports or various clubs. However, as we grow older and become more consumed with work and other responsibilities that come with adulthood, we have a tendency to put the activities we enjoy on the back-burner. However, that’s actually a poor choice for our health, since hobbies like painting, gardening, jogging, meditating and even exercising can all help relieve the stress of the daily grind. Second, when you feel stress coming on, try to walk away. No matter if it’s because of a project or an unexpected medical bill in the mail, take a break to go for a walk around the office building or the neighborhood to help clear your mind. No, this won’t take the stressor away. Your bill won’t be paid by the time you return from your walk. However, you might be able to face it with a clearer mind and be able to focus on a positive plan to get the task taken care of effectively and efficiently. Also, don’t forget to add in exercise during the day. Using the excuse you work so you can’t exercise? Sorry, not a good enough excuse! Utilize your work breaks to take a walk up and down the stairs or around the office. Or you could use your lunch hour to visit the local gym. If you want to make it happen, you
can make it happen. Remember, even something as simple as a 20-minute jog at some point during the day can help you better manage stress and feel more relaxed. You don’t have to train for a marathon to get optimal results. Finally, don’t forget to smile, laugh and have fun! We only have one life to live. It can’t be all work and no play! Fortunately, you live in the amazing town of Knoxville, where there is always fun to be had. For instance, the
Rhythm N’ Blooms Music Festival will be happening in Knoxville’s Historic Old City at the first of April and will feature a variety of music, including Nancy Ann Wilson and Paul Thorn. Also, you won’t want to miss out on the
Rossini Festival International Street Fair on April 14! It is sure to be an amazing tribute once again to the arts.
Is it stress, or another medical issue? Visit AFC Urgent Care Knoxville today for a complete physical exam to ensure there isn’t an underlying health problem causing your symptoms.
