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SALT LAKE CITY — When you are stressed, it’s hard to make sure you have time for family, friends and work, and to enjoy the things around you.
Balance is the key to a healthy lifestyle. But when stress happens, doctors say it’s vital that you deal with stress effectively.
“Not only the mental fatigue but physical fatigue can cause hormonal effects and cause weight gain if we’re not dealing with it appropriately,” psychiatrist Theresa Dvorack said.
Negative health effects include obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, susceptibility to sickness and headaches.
“If I’m not working on how to decrease that stress in my life, then I’m going to continue having those negative health effects from it,” Dvorack said. “Digestion can be the first thing that gets cut off when you are stressed.”
Making a few small changes to what you do everyday will lower your blood pressure, boost your immune system and help reduce some of that built up stress. Dvorack said taking time for yourself is the first step, whether it is 10 seconds or 10 minutes.
She also said to learn how to say no, make a habit of exercise and to write every day in a journal to help pinpoint what is causing the tension.
“Once we’re able to recognize the stress, we can better find more appropriate coping mechanisms,” Dvorack said. “The key is to find one that works for you.”
