Site Meter Encouraging Health » Blog Archive » 3 Quick Ways to Destress Your Head

3 Quick Ways to Destress Your Head

by Brick ONeil

stress.jpgStress isn’t all bad.

Short-term, it can help you meet a deadline, turn a double play, or keep your bumper from getting crumpled.

But when stress lingers like week-old leftovers, it’s time to pull the plug with a quick stress-busting technique like scrunching, breathing, or corking. Here’s how to do ‘em:

Quick Fix
Chronic stress can destroy your sleep patterns, boost the rate at which your arteries age, and turn your immune-system function down too low. But you can quickly rein in stress with these tricks:
Scrunch your face tightly for 15 seconds, then release. Repeat several times. Repetitive contraction and relaxation helps release tension you’re holding above the neck.
Breathe in, lick your lips, and then blow out slowly. The cool air helps you refocus and slow down.

Stop for a second and focus on your breathing. Now look down. See anything moving? Probably not. That’s because most people typically take very short, shallow breaths — the kind that simply come from your chest. For you to really improve your lung function, you need to practice taking deep, whole breaths. It should take about 5 seconds to inhale and 7 seconds to exhale. And your belly should get big, then small. Ahhh . . . that’s better.

Remember what makes the lungs move? Your diaphragm. That’s the muscle that pulls your lungs down, so your lungs expand and you can really circulate oxygen throughout the whole lung. As your diaphragm pulls your chest cavity down and you inhale, your belly button should be moving away from your spine as you fill your lungs. Your chest also will widen — and maybe even rise ever so slightly — as you inhale. When your lungs feel fuller than a sumo wrestler’s lunchbox, exhale slowly. You can pull your belly button toward your spine to force all the air out of your lungs.

Cork it. Hold a wine cork vertically between your teeth (some people may first need to slice a bit off the top before it will fit). A gentle bite on the cork will force your jaws — a major tension-holder — to relax.

Browse Encouraging Health for more articles.


Posted in General on February 24th, 2008

Link to this Entry

Recent Posts

Related Posts

Leave a Reply


About Encouraging Health

EncouragingHealth.com shows a wide variety of issues and concerns about our health we all should be aware. Only when we are aware will we be able to make the necessary changes.

Through EncouragingHealth.com will be the education to invite ourselves to see our Health Care Providers, ask the questions and expect helpful answers.

EncouragingHealth.com will cover a wide variety of issues, concerns and helpful hints to lead healthy lives.

Encouraging Health Author(s)
    » Brick-ONeil

NAVIGATE

LINKS

CATEGORIES

TOP COMMENTERS

RECENT COMMENTS

SUBSCRIBE

ARCHIVES

Science & Health Channel Links

 

Science & Health Channel Posts

  • YouTube Clip of the Week:"Psychology Test: Are You Normal?"
    This blog might be a little somber lately since I haven't been well and my Mom was hospitalized this week. Then again, the whole world is probably a bit somber lately. So, I looked for a snarky but [...]
  • Going To Extremes With Depression
    It's hard to have a "normal" day when you have depression. You are either having the best day ever or you're having the worst day ever. One of the problems many people with any type of depression [...]
  • ASH Updates Guidelines in Hypertensive Patients with Diabetes
    Updated guidance published in the current issue of the American Society of Hypertension's (ASH) Journal of Clinical Hypertension addresses the urgent need for physicians to take a more integrated, [...]
  • 5 Effortless Ways to Eat Healthier
    There’s no easier moment to kick-start your healthy eating plan than when produce hits perfection, any time of the year . . . which is right about now. Here’s how to make it happen: 1. Count [...]
  • Researchers Collaborate to Advance Crohn’s Treatment
    A study led by Mayo Clinic has found that infliximab (Remicade) administered alone (monotherapy) or in combination with azathioprine is a more effective treatment for patients with moderate to severe [...]
  • I Don't Like the Tone of Voice
    I don't like the tone of voice that my husband and I are raising our children in.  I know, that sentence shouldn't end with a preposition, but blah, this post may not have any punctuation.  [...]
  • Math Skills Are Essential and Essentially Failing in US
    Anyone can tell you, mathematics and science go hand in hand. Even when you don't think that math is going to come into play, it is math that often times allows even social or "soft" scientists to [...]
  • YouTube Clip of the Week: "Mini Strokes (TIAs)"
    TIAs are a warning that a full-blown may soon be on the way. Although it's unknown why my Mom had to be hospitalized yesterday, the initial findings indicate that it was a TIA. She's doing much [...]
  • Put it Behind You
     At some point, most people experience acute lower back problems. Of one thing you can be certain, there is no magic exercise program that cures it, but there is hope. A good percentage of back pain [...]
  • American Performing Icon Raising Awareness of Diabetes
    For more than 30 years, Ben Vereen, a Tony award-winning, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-nominated actor, dancer and singer, has inspired audiences with his versatility and creativity as a performer. [...]

 

Hot Off The Press

  • I Don't Like the Tone of Voice
    I don't like the tone of voice that my husband and I are raising our children in.  I know, that sentence shouldn't end with a preposition, but blah, this post may not have any punctuation.  [...]
  • Three Reasons To Homeschool
    I have a guest poster writing this for me.  Remember all the whining over TMJ and sinus's and the like, people felt sorry for me.  Now, before you read this guest post from Luke Holzmann, [...]
  • WWE Diva in Playboy Halloween Party, Meet the Hardy's Contest
    -WWE diva Maryse will be part of the Kandy Halloween Party at the Playboy Mansion on October 31st, 2008. The party is a fundraiser for the Pay It Forward Foundation. For more [...]
  • Cesar Cielo Takes Gold, Bronze During First Day Of FINA Swimming World Cup
    Taking a break since the conclusion of the 2008 Olympic Games, former Auburn swimmer Cesar Cielo returned to the pool Saturday, competing in the first event of the 2008 FINA/Arena Swimming World C [...]
  • Another Main Event Match For Cyber Sunday
    This match-up was just added from the results of last night's Smackdown: When you’re at the top of your game, there’s a target on your back. This is the world of WWE Champion Triple H, who [...]
  • Arkansas volleyball falls in four
    Razorbacks fall to Alabama Friday [...]
  • Today is Herb Day 2008
    HerbDay is a gathering of public educational events celebrating the importance of herbs and herbalism. HerbDay was conceived of by five nonprofit organizations with interests in herbs and herbalism [...]
  • Researchers Collaborate to Advance Crohn’s Treatment
    A study led by Mayo Clinic has found that infliximab (Remicade) administered alone (monotherapy) or in combination with azathioprine is a more effective treatment for patients with moderate to severe [...]
  • Britney's Womanizer Video!
    Gotta admit the song is catchy as hell, and I like the video too -it's classic Britney, the Britney we fell in love with! What do you think? Here's a couple stills from the video as [...]
  • Mad Men: "The Inheritance"
    We mentioned on Friday that Mad Men last Sunday, along with the Entourage episode on the same night seemed a little off-beat to what we are accustom too from both series. The difference being the [...]