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GET MOVING TO MANAGE STRESS

You know that exercise is good for your health, but your life is too busy to fit physical activity into your routine. Hold that thought — there’s good news when it comes to exercise and stress.

Any form of exercise, from walking to zumba, can act as a stress reliever. You don’t need to be an athlete to make physical activity part of your stress management plan. 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND STRESS RELIEF

Physical movement improves your overall health and your sense of well-being, which puts more pep in your step every day. Exercise also has some direct stress-relieving benefits.

• Exercise releases endorphins. Physical activity helps increase the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, endorphins. Although this is often referred to as a runner’s high, a game of tennis or a hike also can contribute to this same feeling.

• Physical activity is meditation in motion. Concentrating on your body’s movements can help you to forget the day’s irritations. As you make daily movement a priority the resulting energy and optimism can help you remain calm and clear in everything you do.

• Movement improves your mood. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence, it can help you relax, and it can decrease the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. Exercise can also improve your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, depression and anxiety. All of these exercise benefits can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life.  

PEAK university employee fitness classes are available to U employees and their family members. Visit health.utah.edu/peak  to register.

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[bs_col class=”col-sm-3″][bs_well size=”lg” ]WATCH WHERE YOU’RE WALKING

We all know about the dangers of distracted driving, but what about distracted walking? Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but distracted walking is a real thing, and it’s causing serious bodily harm to pedestrians.

According to the CDC, the problem is vast.  In 2012, 4,743 pedestrians were killed in traffic crashes in the United States, and another 76,000 pedestrians were injured.

Read the full article here.

EYE ON DIABETES

If you are one of the 29 million people in the U.S. affected by diabetes, you probably know that you are at risk for eye disease. If this is news to you, don’t panic, but do be aware of the risks. The good news is, most diabetic eye disease can be treated before it causes vision loss.

Click here to read the story.

For more expert health news and information, visit healthcare.utah.edu/healthfeed.[/bs_well]
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