30Dec, 2014

The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2014 annual report for this blog.

Here’s an excerpt:

A San Francisco cable car holds 60 people. This blog was viewed about 1,200 times in 2014. If it were a cable car, it would take about 20 trips to carry that many people.

Click here to see the complete report.

25Dec, 2014

Start the holiday season by downloading a free gift and reading this post.

23Dec, 2014

happy holidaysThe holidays are here already and for some of us, it is a passport to work and more work. Sometimes it may be difficult to take time out to rest especially if one is a workaholic. This can be dangerous to one’s health and  relationships. Having time for self and others is an important part of life and should be set as top priority on our to do list. However, it is common place to see many work round the clock, in the name of making more money. It is true that there is so much to do, but someone once said that the best time to relax is when you feel you have no time for it. It is therefore paramount that you rest and create time to relax, so as to prevent the harmful effects of stress as we saw in our last series.

The year 2014 brought with it a number of good and bad times, and as the year slowly inches to an end, it would be beneficial to hibernate for some days.  Here are 10 ways  you can explore making the most of the holiday season:

1. Spend time with family

Interpersonal interaction has a therapeutic effect on our emotional health especially when with loved ones. It brings a  sense of calm, peace and love. You feel at home and secure when with your family.

2. Go to the beach

A trip to a natural and serene environment can do your body and mind a lot of good. Either with loved ones or by yourself, you can ease a lot of stress by enjoying the cool air at the beach.Relax

3. Visit a spa.

Why not give yourself a treat to a spa this season.  You may  go out to one or you can create one yourself at home.  Get a massage which can help reduce, stress, headaches, pain and anxiety.

4. Practice relaxation techniques.

Breath in. Breath out.

This simple mantra has tremendous benefits. Relaxation technique works by counteracting the effects of a stress response. While stress activates the sympathetic nervous system in a fight or flight response, relaxation activates the parasympathetic nervous system and brings the body back to normal.

5. Surprise yourself

Surprise? While it may seem impossible to surprise oneself, you can decide to get yourself a gift. For all the hard work during the year, you sure deserve that one thing you really desire. Don’t wait for anyone to get it for you. Show yourself some love.

gift

6. Do something you are passionate about.

This holiday, engage in an activity that you have always wanted to do however productive. This can be singing, writing, participating in a sport, traveling, learning to knit, play an instrument, etc.

7. Keep a positive attitude, be happy!.

Laughter they say is the best medicine. Having a positive outlook to life is crucial in combating stress. When you are optimistic, then it is not likely that the slightest obstacle will dampen your day. Always keep a cheery smile on your face.

Happy

8. Exercise

When stress weakens you, exercise invigorates and energizes you. It improves your concentration level, makes you alert enough to perform the day’s activities and what’s more, it refreshes you. Consider doing it regularly for at least 10 minutes each day this holiday.

9. Get enough sleep.

This holiday, you would do well to ensure you get adequate sleep for at least 7 to 9 hours. Lack of sleep has been linked to hypertension, increased production of stress hormones.

10. Plan ahead.2015

As the new year approaches one way to ensure a stress free 2015 will be to plan ahead. Management of time, resources, setting goals and priorities are important in ensuring a life that is free of stress.

Watch out for the next article, as we consider how we can make stress-free  new year resolutions.

Again, you can follow @drmorayojimoh for interesting tips that can help you make the most of this holiday.

Compliments of the season!

From Mobile Health Consult! seasonsClick on here  to download  a gift from Mobile Health Consult.

Enjoy!

18Dec, 2014

balancelow

Once a problem is brought to the level of consciousness, it is said to be 50% solved! We have shared a lot of information about stress in the previous articles of the Stress management series, bringing to consciousness where stress originates from, its effects on health, triggers of stress and common signs and symptoms of stress. It may seem like nothing can be done about stress as there will always be events in life that will cause more stress however, it is refreshing to know we have more control over our lives than we think. Taking charge of your life is the next step towards the realistic and attainable goal of proper management of stress. Simply put, gaining control over  your thought patterns, emotions, behaviour, attitude, reaction to situations/problems, time management skills and more  will go a long way towards improving your everyday functioning thereby empowering you to manage stress.

 

Stress management can be achieved primarily through deliberate lifestyle changes  such as:

  1. Exercising on a regular basis: walking-exercise_zpsb6448858 Exercises such as brisk walking and swimming, are very beneficial to relieving stress as it is a way to free the body of some stress hormones. Take out time each day to exercise for 10-15 minutes and free yourself of some stress.
  2. Eating well: BalancedDietEating a balanced diet cannot be over emphasized when it comes to managing stress, healthy foods, fruits, vegetables and water are essential to living a healthy life. Keeping the body hydrated is also very necessary because when the body is dehydrated, it releases cortisol which is a stress hormone. Always remember to stay hydrated throughout the day to keep stress away.
  3. Proper sleep: Our bodies need proper rest after so much work during the day. Sleeping well refreshes the body and mind. Ensure you get enough sleep every day.sleep-helps-skin-care-blog
  4. Time management skills: People often complain that they don’t have enough time to do what they want to do or what is expected of them. the truth is there will never be more than 24 hours in a day, therefore proper time management skills such as prioritizing important tasks and having  a to-do-list with short breaks at intervals, are essential to proper stress management.
  5. Learn to enjoy yourself and relax: Yes, there are things beyond your control but when you are at peace, your entire equilibrium will follow suit. Taking some time out to relax and enjoy yourself is important to managing stress. Here is a tip, learn to enjoy the people in your life also, learn to enjoy your family, friends and just enjoy life every day.  Try as much as possible to avoid fights and quarrels.
  6. Learn to let go: Forgive yourself and others for any wrong done and just let go, no matter how painful it was or still is. When you hold on to pain, you hold on to stress! Free yourself of stress today by searching within you to release and forgive yourself and others that may have wronged you.
  7. Mindfulness meditation: This is a non-judgmental focus of one’s attention on the emotions, thoughts and sensations occurring in the present moment. mindful relaxConstant  practice of mindfulness meditation enables you clear your mind and helps you achieve focus, calmness and tranquility. In achieving these, stress can be eased off.
  8. Biofeedback therapy: Is a clinical intervention for stress management. It is a tool that gives an insight to what goes on your body. Information about your heart rate, blood pressure and muscle tension are provided with biofeedback.  Biofeedback is a powerful tool which can help improve your mental functioning by combating the effects of stress. It works with a number of relaxation techniques which help you control you body’s’ processes and keep you from being stressed. A common relaxation technique is deep breathing.Biofeedback

As a gift to you this holiday season, Click HERE to begin a deep breathing exercise.

Be calm. Relax. Enjoy.

As you practise these very useful ways to manage stress, you will begin to see how much control you have over your life as you become better, more emotionally stable and healthier!

 

To learn more about Mindfulness meditation and Biofeedback therapy, kindly visit: www.mobilehealthconsult.org

16Dec, 2014

stresssIn the first part of these series, we shared information about what stress is, how it affects us and some common stressors, in this second part, we are looking into the warning signs and symptoms of stress. You will benefit immensely from this article not just by reading it but by also looking through your lifestyle and having a self-analysis as regards each of the signs and symptoms as it applies to you because the more aware you are about stress, the easier it is to keep it at bay. Try to make it more practical by writing down one or more of these signs and symptoms that you have experienced persistently in this year and how it has affected an aspect of your life.

Here are some common signs and symptoms of stress:

  • Frequent headaches:stress_1521948c_1752604c if you experience persistent headaches such that you have to constantly be on medications, it is as a result of unchecked stress.
  • Tiredness and weakness: a lowered energy level is a sign of stress, if for instance you suddenly easily get tired and weak consistently, you may need to consider it as a warning sign.
  • Unwanted/unplanned weight gain/loss: stress can led you to eat more thanscale-weight-loss-600x450-TS-160476214 required (especially unhealthy foods) or make you loss appetite  completely thereby causing unhealthy weight gain or weight loss which you have not bargained for.

 

 

  • Tremors/ fidgeting: have you ever wondered why some people seem to have tremors or fidgets like hand tremors? well, that is something that could be as a result of stress. so if you ever find yourself experiencing tremors or fidgeting, then, stress may be the reason.
  • Decreased work efficiency/productivity: used to be highly productive?, used to be very efficient?, what happened along the way? stress happened! stress can lower your productivity by starting in subtle ways and ending with damaging results if not checked.
  • Nervousness: the more your stress levels, the more nervous you can become.
  • Reduced sexual desire/libido:  because stress affects the reproductive system as well, it can result in serious complications such as  a low sex drive or loss of libido and this will in turn cause problems in the relationship between couples. 

stress_head

  • Racing thoughts: having rapid thought patterns can be as a result of stress.
  • Difficulties with concentration/attention: finding it difficult to concentrate on a task or having struggles with attention could be as a result of stress.
  • Insomnia: this is a sleep disorder often characterized with difficulties sleeping (falling asleep and staying asleep) in the absence other health conditions, it could be as a result of stress.
  • Mood swings: this is a noticeable change in a person’s mood or emotional state that is a very common sign of stress. If you have noticed changes in your moods or you are experiencing unstable moods, it is is probably due to stress.
  • african-american-woman-stressedAnxiety: is an unpleasant state associated with nervous behaviour, worrying, apprehension and fear and can interfere with a person’s functioning.
  • Forgetfulness: the tendency to forget things is more likely to happen when stress is involved.

 

Having listed these signs and symptoms, it is important to know how to properly manage stress. Practical ways to manage stress will be the topic of discussion in the next article. 

Remember to follow @DrMorayoJimoh  for more interesting updates on stress management

 

12Dec, 2014

In this month, we are sharing information about stress management with very interesting topics and useful information to help you manage stress properly, we will be shedding light on what stress is, its effects on health, causes of stress, signs and symptoms of stress, ways to manage stress, clinical interventions and more eye opening information. This is the best information to get you going as the year wraps up and as you plan for the new year.

stressladysmallLife is full of ups and downs, challenges here and there, deadlines, frustrations, disappointments and expectations. As a result of this, many have taken up stressful living as a life style.  Stress is the psychological and physical reaction to the challenges of everyday life. It originates from the body’s response to a perceived threat or danger, this response is known as the “flight or fight response which helps the body deal with unexpected situations by releasing some stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol and  prepares the body for action resulting in an “emergency state”.  In this state, there is an increase in heart beat and blood pressure, breathing becomes faster, there is also more stamina and speed. However, when an individual is constantly operating on this “emergency state”, It often results in serious health consequences.

stress_responseStress affects certain parts of the body such as the brain and nerves, muscles and joints, pancreas, intestine, stomach, heart, respiratory system and reproductive system. Therefore, problems associated with these parts of the body are common when an individual is going through a lot of stress.

Stress has been linked to various physical and emotional problems some of which include;

  • Hypertension
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Relationship problems
  • Burnoutblack_man_stress2
  • Heart problems
  • Insomnia
  • Migraine
  • Memory problems
  • Aches and pains

It also increases the body’s susceptibility to infections by weakening the immune system.

 

Anything that can cause stress is known as a stressor, which can be negative events or positive ones. Here are some common stressors:

  • Financial problems
  • Excessive job demands
  • Family problemsgeneral-stressors-banner20130829-28277-1g37to3-0_540x245
  • Fear
  • Worrying
  • Death of a loved one
  • Threatening life events such as accidents and disasters
  • Marriage
  • Getting a new job
  • Divorce
  • Unemployment

 

Keep in mind that negative things will happen in life but it is how you are able to handle these negative situations that determines how much you can cope with stress. The warning signs of stress and more information will be discussed in the next article.

kindly visit www.mobilehealth consult.org also, follow @Drmorayojimoh for more interesting update on stress management.