Wednesday, November 28, 2001

Reduce holiday stress

Although the holidays are a fun time of gift giving and getting together with family and friends, there is a certain amount of stress added to our already busy lifestyles. There are a number of things that we can do to help reduce stress and prevent injury.

Get your spine evaulated. Reduce internal stresses caused by nerve irritation subluxation).

Sleep right. Make sure that you get the normal 7-8 hours of sleep each night and avoid sleeping on your stomach. Sleeping on your side or back with a pillow supporting the neck will insure proper support of the neck and reduce stress.

Avoid looking up when decorating the house and Christmas tree. Use a stepladder instead of looking up. Do as much as possible at eye level. This reduces stress and prevents neck injury and related symptoms like headaches.

Think about how you lift. Always keep your feet apart, keep your back straight (vertical), bend your knees, start in a squatting position, keep elbows and arms close to your body and center your body weight over your feet.

Avoid prolonged driving or riding. Make frequent stops. Get out of the car and walk around. You'll arrive at your destination more refreshed. Adjust your seat and headrest to support your back and neck. Bring an additional pillow to support your head in case you dose off.

Keep up your regular exercise routine. Exercise is known to promote health and reduce stress.

A health talk is scheduled for Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. at the Peachtree City Library. The topic is "Reducing Lifestyle Stress and Exercise."