Vim & Vigor - Summer 2018 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 31

YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM

If you've ever gotten sick during a stressful time-think finals
week in college or while planning a big event like your wedding-
you've probably experienced the connection between stress and
your immune system firsthand. If stress is allowed to continue unchecked,
it can hinder your body's ability to fight off illness (or manage one you
already have).
significant
Adequate rest and exercise can give your immune system a signifi
cant
boost, Greenberg says. She also recommends foods rich in omega-3s,
such as salmon, as well as garlic, black tea, turmeric and chicken soup,
the old standby. You can also feed your immune system in other ways.
"Don't discount the importance of social support and connecting
with others," Greenberg says. "But ensure you're talking to the right
person-someone you trust-because some people can make your
stress worse."

YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

A stressful episode can leave you feeling anxious,
depressed or mentally exhausted. Chronic stress can
result in depression, anxiety and panic attacks, and even
memory loss and impaired concentration over time. How do you know
when it's time for professional help?
"If you're experiencing stress or unhappiness that's interfering with
your life or with accomplishing daily tasks, it may be time to seek help,"
Greenberg says. Chronic stress and anxiety can be treated with therapy and
medications, if necessary.
And remember that, try as you might, you can't prevent or avoid all
the stress that life throws at you. But that's all the more reason to treat yourself
to healthy pick-me-ups whenever and wherever possible.
"The more stressful your life, the more important it is to have things planned in your
immediate future (like this weekend) that bring you pleasure-things that you can
look forward to all week as well as enjoy when they happen," Storoni says. ■

PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES

MEDITATE ON THIS COFFEE MUG
Making time for mindful activities, such as meditation, during your busy day isn't always possible. But you can get the stress-relief benefits through a practice called focused-attention
meditation. Try this simple exercise, from Mithu Storoni, MD, author of Stress-Proof: The
Scientific Solution to Protect Your Brain and Body-and Be More Resilient Every Day:
1. Choose an object to focus on, like a mug with an image on it at your desk.
2. Set a timer on your phone for two minutes.
3. Focus on the picture. "This will help to keep your mind occupied and in the present
moment," says Rashmi Kulkarni, MD, a provider with GMG Primary Care's Covenant Family
Medicine. "Whenever your mind starts to wander, use the object to refocus," she says.
"Besides having a calming effect, focused-attention meditation is a quick way to
strengthen your attention, which contributes to better emotional regulation and selfcontrol," adds Dr. Kulkarni.

QUIZ

The Upside
of Stress
In small doses, stress isn't a bad
thing. But it can add up quickly.
To better understand your unique
stress triggers, visit gwinnett
medicalcenter.org/stressquiz.

S UMME R 2018

http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/stressquiz http://www.gwinnettmedicalcenter.org/stressquiz

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