Seven Ways to Keep Your Mental and Physical Well-being

During times of stress it is becomes even more necessary to guard your physical and emotional health, because for those of us who are able to help others, our ability to help and stay strong for them becomes even more important.

A more carefree attitude may help keep your mind young.
Chronic worry was linked to an increased risk of cognitive decline in a recent study. Obsessive worriers had more than double the risk of decline compared to their more carefree peers. Kick worries to the curb by writing them down in a journal or talking them out with people you love. Also, work on decisive plans of action for worries that won't go away.

Are you a hot head? A less hostile outlook may help keep your heart rhythms steady.
Studies in men revealed that men who are generally hostile or often openly angry may have as much as a 30 percent greater risk of developing irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation. Atrial fibrillation is a risk factor for stroke.

Gaining more control over hostile feelings may help reduce your risk of unhealthy behaviors over the years.
According to research, people who had higher than average levels of hostility in college tended to have more risk factors for poor health down the road, compared to their more even-tempered college peers. However, a dramatic drop in hostility over the years helped to level out the health risks for the hot-tempered people.

If you're feeling spiritual these days, you may start feeling better about your health, too.
Taking time to nurture your spirit may be a path to better health, according to some researchers. An assessment of the health perceptions of older adults revealed that the people who reported being the most spiritual also tended to rate their health more highly compared to people who did not consider themselves to be spiritual.

Staying positive may help protect your heart from needless aging.
In a study of men, those who had a tendency to experience negative emotions, such as anxiety, pessimism, and hostility, had a higher risk of heart disease compared to their peers who possessed more positive emotional outlooks. Catch yourself when your mood turns dark and try focusing on positive thoughts.

Are you feeling stressed? Finding your inner calm may help your body's healing process.
In a study of patients undergoing surgery, those who were the most stressed during the weeks before surgery tended to have the slowest recovery from the procedure. Help your wounds heal faster by making an effort to keep daily stress levels under control with deep breathing, meditation, or other calming activities.

Nipping even a mild case of the blues in the bud could help you avoid illness-promoting inflammation.
In a study, people reporting only a few symptoms of depression had higher blood levels of interleukin-6, an inflammatory protein that has been associated with increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Be sure to schedule extra time for mood-boosting activities whenever your spirits start to sag.

Doing things for other people could help you live a healthier life.
In a study, people whose lifestyles included lending support to others tended to report better mental health compared to people who were not as giving. And mental well-being has been linked to better overall health, according to research.