Well-being tip #11: how to decrease stress levels
- Dr Francine Marques
- Apr 11, 2016
- 1 min read
We all have heard stress is bad for us. But what is stress? According to the Oxford dictionary, stress is “a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances”. Why is stress bad for cancer patients? A recent research by Melbourne-based researchers demonstrated that cancer spreads faster in mice exposed to chronic (prolonged) stress.(1) They also found that breast cancer patients who were taking beta-blockers, a medication commonly used to treat patients with cardiovascular disease that acts by blocking the action of hormones that mediate the ‘fight-or-flight’ response, were less likely to have metastasis. While we wait the results of a pilot study using beta-blockers to decrease the risk of metastasis in breast cancer patients, we can take an active role in reducing stress in our lives. Since this topic has been widely discussed, I have selected a few good websites for you on how to decrease stress (links below). I try, for example, to exercise regularly, meditate (mindfulness is particularly helpful), drink green tea, do things that I enjoy and laugh a lot!
Lots of love and health
xo Fran
Blogs on how to reduce stress:
A overview of tips: http://greatist.com/happiness/23-scientifically-backed-ways-reduce-stress-right-now and here http://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/reduce-stress
Exercise and stress: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/exercise-and-stress/art-20044469
Meditation and stress: http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/meditation/in-depth/meditation/art-20045858
Breathing to reduce stress: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/breathing-to-reduce-stress
App for guided mindfulness: https://www.headspace.com/science/meditation-for-stress
References
(1) Le CP, Nowell CJ, Kim-Fuchs C, Botteri E, Hiller JG, Ismail H, Pimentel MA, Chai MG, Karnezis T, Rotmensz N, Renne G, Gandini S, Pouton CW, Ferrari D, Möller A, Stacker SA, Sloan EK. Chronic stress in mice remodels lymph vasculature to promote tumour cell dissemination. Nat Commun. 2016 Mar 1;7:10634.
