Stress management is one of the most important heart disease prevention tip to follow.
Although it is frequently stated that stress causes up to 80 percent of disease, stress is rarely addressed by medical professionals beyond the mere advice to try to reduce stress in your life.
Sounds like a great idea, but most people have no idea how begin to really reduce stress.
If it really is behind the development of disease, including heart disease, than finding a way to deal with it should be uppermost in people's strategies for reducing its dangerous effects.
Since it is impossible to live a life completely free of stress, discovering new ways to manage stress can mean the difference between a long and healthy life or one filled with chronic health problems.
Heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men in the United States and much of the developed world.
Studies attempting to unravel the mystery of why this is generally revolve around our modern way of life and its effects on the cardiovascular system.
Unhealthy food choices, lack of exercise, pollution and high levels of stress have all been blamed.
The causes are complicated and require a wholistic view of modern life, taking each component into consideration.
Improving diet and exercise, avoiding artificial chemicals and slowing down the pace of life are all strategies to help fight heart disease.
Addressing stress management should be added to the list of weapons to help fight heart disease.
Biofeedback techniques dates to the 1960s and are used to monitor and change physical reactions that were once thought to be beyond our control.
The medical profession at the time thought heart rate and blood pressure levels were something outside the realm of mental control, but biofeedback showed that with training, people could adjust many of their physical reactions to stress.
During times of stress, powerful hormones are released into the body to instantly prepare it for the fight or flight response.
This is great if a wild beast is approaching but not so great if you are just sitting at a desk, fuming at your boss' latest antics.
Continued high levels of stress keep those hormones pumping and research has shown that long-term effects of high stress hormone levels can lead to heart and cardiovascular problems.
Controlling the body's reaction to stress is what biofeedback training is all about.
Initially, people use feedback equipment that provides signals when physical reactions such as tense muscles and rising blood pressure are present.
Over time, the patient learns to mentally control these responses as the biofeedback machine signals changes, lowering blood pressure and heart rate along with changing breathing and other bodily functions.
Eventually, the equipment is no longer needed as people master their control over their reactions to stress.
Another technique enhancing stress management is the use of self-talk corresponding to the changes you are trying to make in your physical reaction to stress.
Repeating something as simple as, "My breathing is deep and slow, and my body is relaxing," speeds the desired response.
Calming and relaxing directions to your body help reduce the levels of stress hormones in the blood stream, lowering blood pressure, heart rate and even reducing sweating palms and feet.
Each of these reactions helps to bring the body back to a state of calm.
Plenty of books have been written to help people learn these techniques, and therapists trained in biofeedback and other strategies can speed you on your way to a more relaxed and healthy life.
Give your heart what it needs, good food, plenty of exercise and a healthy dose of stress management.