Left unmanaged, daily stress has adverse effects on your physical and emotional health. At Columbia Internal Medicine in Castleton, New York, Padma Sripada, MD, a board-certified internal medicine specialist, goes beyond traditional medical treatment for common health issues. She offers practical ways to manage stress through breathing and meditation techniques. If you suffer from headaches, insomnia, or digestive problems, they may all be the result of stress. Learn how to incorporate meditation and stress management techniques into your life to help alleviate health issues and help you feel better. Call today to schedule a consultation.
You may not even be aware, but the daily pressures and stress in your life could be contributing to your health problems. Stress often affects your health as physical problems, such as:
Additionally, you may feel the detrimental effects of stress in an emotional capacity, like:
Unmanaged stress may lead to behaviors such as overeating, alcohol use, drug use, or lack of physical exercise. In the long run, these habits can lead to serious physical health conditions. Dr. Sripada helps men and women realize that stress management may be a vital part of your treatment plan in helping you manage a chronic condition.
Meditation and stress management techniques can help you reduce the negative effects of stress on your physical and emotional well-being. Being able to recognize and manage stress effectively helps you cope in a healthier, more positive manner. For example, when you’re able to breathe deeply, and assess a negative situation as one you can manage, you may be less likely to turn to alcohol, tobacco, or other destructive behaviors that negatively affect your health and your relationships.
Additional benefits of meditation and stress management include:
Meditating before bed and focusing on your breathing can help you sleep better. Daily meditation for just 15 minutes has significant benefits on your health by reducing stress. Yoga, swimming, and eating a healthy diet are also helpful at alleviating stress.
There are a variety of meditation techniques that focus on helping your body destress. Concentration meditation involves focusing on a single point, such as a candle flame, or repeating a word or mantra. Mindfulness meditation helps you observe your thoughts in a more neutral light, so you can learn to let negative thoughts go.
In both meditation techniques, you focus on breathing and becoming still so you can find a deeper sense of relaxation. You can begin with just 10-15 minutes a day of closing your eyes, breathing deeply, and allowing your body and mind to relax.
To learn more about the benefits of meditation and stress management, call Columbia Internal Medicine to schedule an appointment.