Good Balance for Seniors

Have you ever lost your footing on a slippery surface? If you have, you know just how scary can be. You go into panic mode, flailing your arms around to maintain balance while your heart rate jumps kicks into high gear.

Most of the time we take our balance for granted, but it’s important for older people to focus on building balance. As much as 45% of seniors experience a major fall every year. Though our balance will decline as we get older, there are many ways to improve your balance and reduce the risk of falls. There are three key elements at the core of good balance:

1.     Visual Cues – Our eyes help us see what’s around and avoid potential dangers.  Eyesight has a lot to do with balance. Don’t believe me? Try balancing on one leg. Then try it with your eyes closed. *Please don’t try this if you have trouble balancing.

2.     Inner Ear – There is a canal in our inner ear filled with fluid that gives us important spatial information on the position of our head and how we are moving in relation to gravity.

3.     Internal Spatial Orientation – Internal spatial orientation describes our innate sense of where we are. For instance if you close your eyes and lift your leg, inner spatial orientation is the reason we know that our leg is off the ground.

When all three of these systems are working properly you will have good balance. This helps us stay active and also prevents falls. Below are some ways to help promote good balance.

Tennis Anyone?

Tennis players are good examples to demonstrate balance. In tennis, there is a server and a receiver. Pay attention to how the receiver stands – with a wide stance, knees and hips flexed and the upper body leans forward.

This position has some advantages. It gives players the best chance to be ready for action. It’s very safe and stable. Typically as we age, we often need to be in the safest, most balanced position. Many times, our balance system isn’t up to par as we get older. Fortunately there are plenty of ways to prevent falling and improve our balance systems.

Common Sense Balance

Learning the safest way to balance yourself is probably the best place to get started. Always check with your doctor if you think you may have a serious balance problem. You may be suffering from a serious medical condition that requires special treatment such as Meniere’s disease. To stay safe keep the following things in mind:

·       Pay attention to your posture. Try and keep your support over your ankles.

·       Avoid fast movements that include quick turns or changes in position.

·       Take your time when rising from a seated position.

·       Use a chair to perform seated exercises. You can also use chairs to hold on to while you are standing.

·       Never close your eyes when you are standing or balancing on a chair.

·       If you are on any medications, ask your doctor if there are side effects that cause dizziness or otherwise impair your balance.

Balance Training

There are many exercises that are designed to improve your balance. Balance exercises aim to improve flexibility, range of motion, build strength and challenge your balance system. Browse the Total Home Health article section to find exercises specifically designed to improve balance.

These exercises are intended for normal imbalance that many seniors face due to age-related decline and inactivity. Always check with your primary care physician first before you start any new exercise routing. Especially if you are experiencing symptoms such as vertigo or ear infections.

Take it Slow

Start slowly with balance training until you are used to the stress of the new exercises. This isn’t a race. You might be comfortable doing the some of the exercises, while others may be harder for you to perform. That is perfectly okay!

Never try something that you are apprehensive about by yourself. It’s much better to get some help. Have a support from a stable person to help give you some confidence. This way you will be more secure when you are performing the exercises. Additionally you can focus more on your balance when you have a helping hand there in case you lose your footing.

Your health care provider will work with you to determine which exercises can help you accomplish your goals. Total Home Health can connect you with experienced health care experts who are ready to help you live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. Join today for unlimited access to our extensive resources.

Exercise to Control Your Weight

There are many benefits to maintaining a healthy weight for your body size and height. The safest and healthiest way to lose involves regular exercise and a nutritious diet. Managing your weight is one way to improve a number of health problems like diabetes, heart disease and arthritis.

Exercise can increase blood flow, promote healthy heart function and increase your mood level. There is no such thing as one size fits all solution when it comes to staying healthy, but regular exercise is as close as it gets.

Remember to take things slow. If you take a measured approach you will have a better chance of reaching your goal. If you try to lose weight by fasting alone, you face the risk of adverse health effects. A gradual pace is also more likely to become a lifestyle habit, rather than a passing fad.

Whether you want to drop a few pounds quickly or you are trying to make a lifestyle change, the most successful path will come from healthy habits. Below are some tips and exercise ideas to help you lose weight and feel great.

Measure Your Progress

Setting goals and measuring your progress is an important step. People who do this are less likely to deviate from their plans. Seeing all your progress is also a great tool for motivation. This keeps your eye on the prize and you can see how far you’ve come. Having a set schedule is a good idea. There are tons of apps, workout charts or calendars that can help you keep track of your workouts and your diet. Make a schedule and stick to it. If you are having trouble getting started, ask your doctor where to begin.

Eat a Nutritious Diet

Try and look at your diet as part of your exercise plan. Eating well and exercising is a sure fire way to lose weight. It’s simple mathematics, as long as you burn more calories than you are consuming, than you will lose weight. There are many calorie counting apps that can help you keep track of everything you eat.

If you don’t want to use an app, consider getting a pocket notebook and keeping a food journal. Having a daily journal can help you approximate the amount of calories you eat and how many you burn.

Don’t try to lose too much weight at once. Fasting and exercising may help you drop pounds quickly, but it is very dangerous. You also need to make sure your body has the right nutrients to function. Losing weight this way is commonly called yoyo dieting. People who achieve results like typically aren’t able to keep the weight off.

Exercise Ideas

Cardiovascular exercise is the number one way to lose weight. It’s also good to focus on strength training, but cardio is going to help you kick those extra pounds to the curb more than anything. Walking, jogging, rowing and swimming are all good choices.

If you can handle a more intense style of exercise, performing Tabata style interval exercises to supplement your regular walk or swim can supercharge your metabolism. Always ask your doctor first before you try this. This kind of exercise can be intense. Tabata’s are high intense interval style exercises.

Traditionally, with Tabatas you are outputting maximum effort and resting for half as long as you work for each interval. If you can’t exercise hard for health reasons, there are endless light impact variations of these exercises.

Following is an example of an 8 round Tabata set lasting a total of 4 minutes, with 20 seconds on and 10 seconds off for each round. You won’t need any equipment, just enough space to move your body and plenty of water handy.

·       Round 1: Partial Squats for 20 seconds, 10 second rest

·       Round 2: Planks for 20 seconds, 10 second rest

·       Round 3: Sit ups for 20 seconds, 10 second rest

·       Round 4: Jumping Jacks for 20 seconds, 10 second rest

·       Round 5: Partial Squats for 20 seconds, 10 second rest

·       Round 6: Planks for 20 seconds, 10 second rest

·       Round 7: Sit ups for 20 seconds, 10 second rest

·       Round 8: Jumping Jacks for 20 seconds, end of set

Don’t forget that peer pressure can be a powerful form of motivation. If you can partner up with your friends or join an exercise group, you will be giving yourself a much better chance of success. Consider taking a regular yoga class or joining a hiking group. The most important thing is to get moving.

To lose weight with exercise you should make sure that you are doing in a healthy way. You can work out hard if your health permits it, but ease into your workouts, especially if you aren’t used to strenuous activity.

Your health care provider will work with you to determine which course of treatments suits you best. Total Home Health can connect you with experienced health care experts who are ready to help you live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. Join Total Home Health today to get the benefits of all of our resources.

The Benefits of Exercise for Seniors

There are a broad range of benefits to be had from exercise. Regular exercise has been shown to protect against disease, improve mood and lower chances of injury. But is it safe for people 65 and older to exercise? Definitely. As we age the body does take longer to recover from physical activity, but it’s good for seniors of all fitness levels to exercise. Even those who suffer from chronic illness can find safe ways to exercise. In fact, many health conditions can improve from physical activity including:

·       Alzheimer’s Disease

·       Dementia

·       Heart Disease

·       High Blood Pressure

·       Lipid Profile

·       Memory Loss

·       Osteoporosis

·       Certain types of cancer

Below is a list of all the wonderful benefits that regular exercise offers to the elderly.

Immune Function – Being fit can make your body healthy and strong. This helps you to fight infections and recover much faster. Instead of losing all your energy when you get a cold, recovery should be much easier.

Cardiovascular Health – Regular exercise has been proven to lower your risk of high blood pressure and heart disease. If you have high blood pressure, exercising will lower it.

Bone Density – Exercise helps build up your bones and fight loss of bone mass. Having adequate bone density reduces the risk of osteoporosis and injuries from falling. Strength training can drastically reduce your loss of bone mass, help strengthen bones and improve balance.

Cancer and Chronic Conditions – You can lower the risk of developing chronic conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and dementia with exercise. It also helps aid the management of cholesterol levels and arthritis pain.

Regular exercise is also related to life expectancy and age related decline in seniors. Additionally, a study by the American Geriatrics Society indicated that exercise training improved range of motion, balance and fear of falling in those who participated.

Often times, elderly people aren’t able to perform aerobic exercises regularly due to low endurance. While aging does affect the cardiovascular system significantly, it is believed that a decrease in muscle mass accounts for at least half of endurance loss.  Strength training, aerobic exercise, stretching and balance exercises are all part of complete physical fitness.

Endurance Exercises

30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise a day is recommended by most physicians for seniors. Walking, swimming and rowing are some of the most common cardio exercises. They work the heart muscle and build up endurance. If an you get tired quickly, it’s okay to break that 30 minutes up any way you wish. Do 3 periods of 10 minutes exercises, or 6 periods of 5 minutes if you need to.

Cardio endurance increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the body. Exercising consistently each day for a few weeks typically improves endurance and makes a person less likely to become tired performing day to day tasks. 

Strength Training

Strength training is one of the best ways to prevent bone density loss and broken bones from falls. Strength training utilizes repetitive motions to help build and strengthen muscles. Elderly people can use free weights, resistance bands or things like chairs and walls for resistance. Strength training 2 to 3 days a week offers the biggest benefits. Exercise muscle groups by doing 1 or 2 sets of 10-15 repetitions of a particular exercise. As time goes on you can increase your reps or increase the resistance.  

Stretching Exercises

Flexibility is important for all types of exercise. Adequate stretching helps your muscles warm up and cool down properly. This can reduce injuries, improve range of motion, and help you recover from your workouts faster.

Stretching is also a great form of meditation because it takes focus, patience and discipline. Things like Yoga or Thai Chi are a good way to stretch and build strength at the same time. These types of exercises isolate the muscles.

Because your core is responsible for supporting all your movement and strength, having a solid core can improve posture and reduce pain all over the body. A number of exercise programs like Pilates are focused on building core strength. This refers to the muscles in your lower back and abdomen.

While many seniors are active and able to exercise regular, there are others who cannot. Some people have limited physical abilities due to medical conditions or frailty. These seniors need to be more careful about how they exercise, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have any options. With the right guidance and professional advice, they can perform safe activities help increase their fitness level and become healthier.

Your health care provider will work with you to determine which type of exercise program is best for you. Total Home Health can connect you with experienced health care experts who are ready to help you live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. Join today to learn jumpstart a longer, healthier life.

Are You happy with your doctor?

If you have been seeing the same doctor for a number of years, you may not have much to compare him or her to. Getting to know what critera to look for can help you get the best treatment. Make sure your doctor is giving you the attention you deserve. There are many warning signs that your doctor isn’t the best match for you.

Does the following interaction sound familiar?

“Doctor my wrist is in pain. I can’t lift my grandchildren.”

“Well, you are 80 years old. You have grandkids?”

“My other wrist is 80 years old and it doesn’t hurt?”

“I will prescribe you some pain medication, and in the future try not to lift anything over 5 pounds.”

If your doctor is only prescribing medication for your symptoms, they may not be exploring enough avenues of treatment. While it’s perfectly okay to prescribe medication in certain instances, it should never be the sole form of treatment for things l like arthritis. Also, if your doctor doesn’t know your personal background, like the fact that you are a grandparent, that’s also red flag. Having grandchildren is a major part of life and can be a big reason to stay mobile.  

The Personal Care You Deserve

Many doctors will use the excuse that they are too busy to get to know their patients better. This is not acceptable. If a doctor is too busy take the time out to learn about their patient, he or she won’t be able to form a personalized treatment plan.

The medical standards for blood pressure, cholesterol levels and general fitness need to be considered alongside a person’s individual attributes. It’s a doctor’s job to tailor those guidelines for their patients. There are lots of lifestyle factors to consider. One 80 year old person may have mobility problems, while others may be able to exercise regularly. People who eat out often may need different advice on lowering their cholesterol compared to those who prepare their own meals.

“Your life history and personal habits are just as important as your medical history”, says Dr. Edmund Tso, MD, of geriatric medicine and member of the Council of Teaching Hospitals and Health Systems (COTH).  In order to do this, your doctor will has to ask questions about your needs and goals.

Palliative measures are incredibly important. A doctor who understands your goals, can help you shape a healthier future. This means focusing on preventing illness and promoting good health.

Is it Time to Get a New Doctor?

If your doctor isn’t treating you as an individual, you may be able to remedy this with more communication. If it’s possible, schedule a longer visit. Explain your future goals and what you want out of treatment. Be as specific as you can. Mention things that you’d like to do. For example:

“I want to live longer.”

“I would like to be more mobile.”

“I want to enter a 5k.”

Your doctor should also have questions for you. Many patients today are looking to the internet to find questions to ask. This puts pressure on doctors in a positive way. Never be afraid to ask a question. If you feel neglected by your doctor, it may be time to look for another physician.

How do you know it’s time to move on? If you confide in your doctor that you are having a specific problem, you should receive more than just a pamphlet. Your doctor should give you details on how to treat the problem, or at least refer you to a specialist. If not, move on.

How to Find a Doctor

How can you find a doctor who fits for you? Ask your peers, friends and family.

Many doctors are better suited to treat elderly people. They look beyond stereotypes and ageism. If you know people who are in a senior living community, visit them for lunch or dinner. You can ask questions and get recommendations. You should be able to get many names of doctors they like, as well as one’s they don’t like.

Check online reviews. Be careful, some may be helpful and some may not. Also check the doctor’s credentials. If you can’t find them on a website, call their office and ask any relevant background questions.

Go with your instincts. When you arrive for your first appointment, if your doctor puts you at ease and makes a genuine effort to get to know you, you may have found your new doctor. Consider looking for a Geriatrician if you want a good chance to find a doctor who specializes with older people. Total Home Health can connect you with experienced health care experts who are ready to help you live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. Join today to jumpstart your health care strategy.

11 Heart-Healthy Foods That Lower Cholesterol

Are you looking for a natural remedy that really works? There are lots of foods that can naturally lower your cholesterol levels (including chocolate). If your idea of eating healthy is opting for one scoop of ice cream instead of two, consider adding the following foods to your diet.

1.     Chocolate

Chocolate is a powerful antioxidant that can help lower your cholesterol. Antioxidants prevent your blood platelets from clumping together. That’s right! But before you go grabbing packs of king sized candy bars, it’s important to understand that not all forms of chocolate are healthy.

Most commercial chocolates are highly processed and how healthy it is depends on how was processed. For now try and stick with dark chocolate over milk chocolate (which is loaded with processed fat and sugar). In comparison to milk chocolate, dark chocolate contains 3 times the amount of antioxidants.

2.     Oats

Lowering your cholesterol is as easy as eating a morning bowl of cereal. Getting two servings of oats can lower LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol in a matter of weeks. Oat contains beta-glucan, a substance that clears LDL, bad cholesterol, from your body.

3.     Nuts

Nuts are the perfect snack food. Raw nuts especially. Research shows that nuts like almonds, cashews and walnuts lower cholesterol levels. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study indicating that eating nuts 6 days a week for one month can lower cholesterol by nearly 10%. Beware, nuts are high in fat, so exercise control. If you are ever feeling hungry grab a handful of cashews or almonds and you are good to go.

4.     Beans

Beans truly are a magical fruit and they are good for your heart. They are loaded with fiber, which has been known to slow the rate that your body absorbs cholesterol. There are an endless variety of tasty bean recipes to try. Try kidney, black or pinto beans to get your daily dose of fiber.

5.     Garlic

This tasty herb ads deep aroma and flavor to almost any dish. Besides that, it’s been found to prevent blood clots, lower blood pressure and serve as a natural antibiotic. Garlic fights cholesterol and prevents debris from clogging the artery walls. If you don’t like to eat fresh garlic, you can also take garlic pills to supplement your diet.

6.     Olive Oil

This popular ingredient is a heart-healthy food through and through. Olive oil can be a healthy source of healthy fats, which are an integral part of a balanced diet. The monounsaturated fatty acids found in olive oil can lower LDL cholesterol. It’s great in marinades, salad dressings and goes well with any protein.

7.     Spinach

Just a ½ cup of spinach a day can keep the doctor at bay. Spinach is a wonderful addition to soups, salads or as a side dish. Spinach leaves have long been known to lower cholesterol and prevent blindness cause by macular degeneration. Lutein, the yellowish pigment found in leafy vegetables like spinach helps your body fend off heart attacks by keeping the artery walls from clogging.

8.     Avocado

Avocados are a rich source of heart healthy monounsaturated fat. This type of fat can lower LDL while raising HDL, which is a good thing. Avocado also reduces the amount of cholesterol absorbed by your body. Adding avocados to a well-balanced diet has been shown to lower the risk of heart disease and improve LDL levels.

9.     Tea

Most people have heard that tea has lots of cancer fighting antioxidants. It is also helps defend against high cholesterol levels. According to the USDA, black tea can reduce blood lipids (fat) by up to 10% in just 3 weeks. This makes a strong case for drinking tea to reduce the risk of heart disease. 

10.  Salmon and Fatty Fish

Fish is one of the most powerful natural health foods. Fish oil is rich in omega 3 fats. These fatty acids can ward off heart disease, dementia and many other conditions. They also lower your cholesterol. According to Loma Linda University, replacing saturated fats with omega 3 fats can raise good cholesterol by as much as 4%.

11.  Red Wine

Drink to your health, in moderation of course. Drinking red wine can have a substantial effect on your cholesterol level. Varieties of red wine include shiraz, cabernet, merlot, sangiovese and chianti. Go ahead and enjoy a glass of wine on your way to better heart health.  

Your health care provider will work with you to create a diet plan that suits your personal needs and goals. Total Home Health can connect you with experienced health care experts who are ready to help you live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. Join Total Home Health today to get the benefit of a comprehensive and personal health care plan.

10 Benefits of Walking

Our bodies are designed for walking. It’s easy to do and offers many benefits, especially for people who suffer from arthritis. Walking is not only part of being a human, it is practical for many reasons. In this day and age, modern human beings seem to be to walk as little as possible. Not many people are willing to commute to work with a 7 mile walk, but even fewer are willing to walk less than 1 mile to a local store.

Hundreds of medical studies have showed that regular exercise is good for your health. The University College of London ran a study published in peer reviewed journals on walking. The data used was collected from 1970 to 2007.

The nearly 40 years of data had over 459,000 participants in 7 countries, who were free of cardiovascular disease when the study began. The average participant was tracked for 11 years during the study, which recorded cardiovascular events such as stroke, chest pains (angina), heart attacks etc. The data showed a strong correlation between participants who walked and the reduced risk of heart problems.

In my opinion, people don’t give walking enough credit. What’s so great about it? For starters it’s free, easy to do and it’s easy on the body. There’s no doubt that walking is good for you. It’s an anaerobic exercise that offers a myriad of benefits.

Walking Improves Circulation

Fend off heart disease with a daily walk. Walking raises your heart rate, lowers blood pressure and strengthens the heart. Studies conducted at the University of Colorado and the University of Tennessee indicated that post-menopausal women that walked just 1 to 2 miles each day lowered their blood pressure by close to 11 points in 6 months. Women who walked a minimum of 30 minutes a day were able to reduce their risk for stroke by 20%. 

Walking Strengthens Bones

Loss of bone density is a major concern among older people. Regular walks can stop the loss of bone mass for those with osteoporosis. Activities like walking aren’t perfect bone builders, but they do offer health benefits. Dr. Vonda Wright, an orthopedic surgeon at the University of Pittsburgh studied 3,000 athletic seniors. Her studies have shown that people in their 70s and 80s who walked regularly were able to maintain above average bone densities in comparison with the general population.

Walking Lifts Mood

The California State University of Long Beach indicated that the more steps participants took during the day, the brighter their moods. Why does this occur? Walking releases endorphins, a natural pain killer produced by the body which is also one of the chemicals responsible for happiness. Long walks were also shown to improve memory and the ability to cope with stress.

Walking Can Help You Lose Weight

A 30 minute walk at a brisk pace can burn up to 200 calories. As we all know, the more calories we burn, the more weight you can lose. 

Walking Builds Strength

Walking may be a much more subtle way to build muscle strength than resistance training, but it definitely does the trick. It tones your legs, core and even the upper body.

Walking Improves Sleep

Many people who have insomnia have discovered that walking is a natural remedy for sleep. Many studies have shown that moderate exercise like walking can reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and increase the length of sleep. A study ran by the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research center shows that women from ages 50 to 75 who walked for one hour each morning were less likely to suffer insomnia than women who didn’t.

Walking Improves Breathing

Breathing exercises can help you expel waste products like carbon dioxide and raise your energy level. When you walk your breathing rate increases, allowing oxygen to move through your bloodstream faster and more efficiently. 

Walking Slows Mental Decline

A study of over 6,000 women over the age of 65 carried out by a research team at the University of California found that those who walked more often had a lower risk of age related mental memory decline. Women who walked a minimum of 2 miles a day were 8% less likely to suffer from age related memory loss.

Walking Can Prevent Alzheimer’s Disease

Exercise and other kinds of physical activity have many health benefits. Epidemiological studies suggest that activities like walking may play a significant role in reducing the risk for Alzheimer’s disease along with other age-related cognitive decline.

Walking Increases Stamina

People 65 and can benefit from walking and resistance exercise programs designed to prevent disabilities. If you have a low fitness level, try walking for 2 to 5 minutes of continuous walking. Slowly build up to 30 minutes 3 to 5 times a week.

Your health care provider will work with you to determine a healthy exercise routine. Total Home Health can connect you with experienced health care experts who are ready to help you live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. Join today to jumpstart your plans for healthy living.

6 Ways to Improve Mental Health

Stress and anxiety are part of the human condition and can be problems for people of any age. By paying attention and being proactive, it’s possible to manage these problems and bring positive results. There are many warning signs you can identify and perhaps more importantly, there are lots of proven methods to deal with stress.

Stress can have a strong negative impact on your well-being. Ignoring it or avoiding stressful activities can often make matters worse – this can lead to depression, insomnia and worsen chronic health conditions.

The good news is there are many proven methods to help you manage stress and get positive results. Many people find that learning how to deal with their stress in a positive is liberating. It can give you a sense of empowerment. Small changes in attitude and your habits can have a large impact on stress management. Following are 6 ways to improve your mental health and deal with stress.

Love Yourself

Having self-esteem and a positive view of yourself is an important part of feeling good every day and lowering your feelings of stress. Taking time out of the day to focus on yourself is key to improving your mental health.

This may sound contrived and silly but it rings true. Many times people don’t realize that their inner dialogue isn’t quite as supportive and loving as it should be. If you say things to yourself like, “Why are you so stupid!” you probably need to change your attitude.

Focus on your strengths and give yourself plenty of positive affirmations. Another good way to raise your self-worth is to find a hobby. Gaining control or mastery of a something can give you a feeling of accomplishment.

Feel good about what you do and give yourself time to do it. Gardening, painting, woodworking or any other hobby that helps you to create something can be very helpful. It gives you something to look forward to each day, while boredom can often lead to feelings of anxiousness.

Take Care of Yourself

Taking care of your body is an essential part of good mental health. A good diet and healthy routine is a great way to make things easier. Eating healthy supports vital brain and body functions.

Many people don’t realize the impact that diet has on a person. Processed foods and excess sugars can lead to mood swings and crashes. This makes it more difficult to keep a stable outlook, especially if you are trying to overcome feelings of depression or anxiety. Also, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can prevent age-related mental decline, which is often the cause of depression in older people. A well-balanced diet is a great way to maintain emotional stability and age gracefully.

Get Regular Exercise

Regular physical exercise is key to keep your body healthy, energy levels up and manage stress. It releases endorphins, which is the chemical produced by the brain to naturally relieve pain and lift mood. Regular exercise is a great way to get your blood pumping and overcome depression as well. If you join an exercise group or a team sport you also get the added benefit of socializing with your peers. This kind of comradery can help you feel better as well.

Find Ways to Deal With Stress

Developing the coping skills to overcome negative feelings is necessary to avoid becoming overwhelmed. Anybody at any age can develop skills to deal with anger and sadness. There are endless activities you can try including journaling, talking to a trusted friend or even just realizing that the feelings may only be temporary and will pass.

It’s true that anger or anxiety can be mitigated through physical exercise, but sometimes it may be hard to find time to go for a swim or get to the gym. If you aren’t able to take part in your usual activities, there are other many other ways to alleviate stress.

Coping skills can be applied whether your stress is temporary or chronic. Finding ways to bring balance and calmness to your life with help you battle negative feelings. Processing your feelings in a positive way is essential to good mental health.

Be Mindful

Being aware may be one of your biggest assets. Meditating, praying or any other mindful activity forces you to focus. This can bring clarity and tranquility to your life and help you come to terms with your anxiety. This is also part of determining the best strategy to deal with certain forms of stress.

Educate Yourself

Learning what causes anxiety, stress or depression can go a long way. This will help you understand your condition and give you better insight into ways you can deal with it. Reading up on unrelated topics you are interested in, like a hobby or interest, can also be a fun way to enjoy your time.

Ignoring your mental health can have an impact on your overall health. Don’t wait to get information or treatment to protect your health.

Your health care provider will work with you to determine which course of treatments suits you best. Total Home Health can connect you with experienced health care experts who are ready to help you live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. Join today to get the benefits of access to our extensive resources.