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17 · October 20,2013 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com 15 | Thursday, Thursday, July 18, | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Tips to cope with stress atsummer work No need tohelp be on you the sidelines: Join the fun this Advertorial (NC)--Outdoor events go hand and emotionally," says Lynn improve both muscle strength in hand with warm weather and Cooper, President, Canadian and joint stability. Participating long days. Unfortunately, many Pain Coalition. "Social isolation in low-impact exercise such as of the 10 per cent of Canadians is common as many individuals walking, swimming, physiotherThe workers of the world more.to So says an in ac· Manage time effectively. One of the problems with living with osteoarthritis (OA) are mayworking are scared participate apy or an yoga is ideal. It is also annual study of employee benefit trends from In increased workload is the time in the day to complete that to be mindful of liminot be able to enjoy their favourite tivities they MetLife. once enjoyed. This important summer due to pain and 2010, 40activities percent of employees admitted theirmay workload had work makes it solitude lead to feelings ofdoes not simultaneously increase. This realitytations -- and not to over-exinflammation. helplessness, anxiety, fear andto become overwhelmed with stress. But a tend or put unnecessary stress increased compared with the previous year. easy few time Chronic pain can extremely even depression." on the knees. Before beginning While there are be many reasons that can account for a management techniques can help. Prioritize certain tasks, burdensome, and pain following tips mayensuring help type heavier workload at theassociatoffice, heavy The layoffs in countries projects that are time-sensitive get done any ahead of f of exercise regimen, it ed with OA of the knee in particu- sufferers better manage their is best to across the globe has, in the many left those who those that aren't. When setting a schedule for work, be real- consult your healthlar can significantly inhibit mo-instances, OA of the knee sobe they canIf a schedule isn't realistic, that will only cause care provider. weren't laid off with extra companies might istic. more bility of those affected. Andwork. while And continue doing the things they Speak up surprised to know just how much this approach isn't work- stress. the physical pain is hard enough enjoy during the summer: Talking with a doctor about ing. TheMetLife found of employto bear, chronicstudy painalso can alsothat 68 percent Lighten up the knee in overweight and obese options to relieve pain and inmanifest in other ways;that as many ees surveyed reported the quality of their work had · Maintain a personal life. Effectively managing stress at patients, for example, suggests Making healthier food choices crease functionality is extremely Canadians experience a losing varietytheir of jobs played a significant work involves having a personal life away from the office. All suffered and that fear of that losing a pound results in a can help shed excess weight. important. This will allow for a social psychological role inand how well they did impacts, their jobs. work and no play is a recipe for stress. No matter how big a Paying attention to portion size four-pound reduction in knee-joint better understanding of one's including depression. workload awaits you at the office, be sure to make time for load for each step. also reduce unnecessary condition, and will help determine Good stress and badcan stress "Those suffering from chronic enjoyable from work. Spend time with friends Get moving calories. long-term study on the activities away possible benefits and side effects While employees might effects not be able to quellAtheir fears of pain experience negative and family, a weekend getaway or simply relax at home. effects of do weight loss on OA of plan Exercise can do wonders to related to treatment. In addition on quality of life, physically one day being laid both off, there are things they can to reduce Such time, even if it's not as often as you might like, makes the stress that often accompanies such fears. Stress is a part dealing with stress at the office that much easier to handle. of most professions and can even be a good motivator. However, when stress is prolonged or excessive, the results · Remain physically active. Exercise is a great remedy for can be very unhealthy. Men and women with high stress stress. In fact, the American Psychological Association notes levels are more likely to suffer from depression, anxiety and that studies have suggested physically active people have cardiovascular disease. When faced with prolonged or exces- lower rates of anxiety and depression than sedentary people. sive stress at the office, men and women can take the follow- While research is ongoing, some researchers feel exercise ing approaches to avoid succumbing to stress. enhances the body's ability to respond to stress. In addition, Extra work k load l d takes k its toll ll on the h mental l health h l h of f employees l to non-pharmacological treatment options, there are prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications that can provide effective pain relief, are non-addictive and well-tolerated. Get support There are a variety of devices that can help take unnecessary stress off joints. It's important to be mindful of sensitive knees and select shoes that are comfortable and supportive, and a cane or walking device should be within reach, if needed. In addition, community support groups are also a great way to learn about management options, and share stories and tips with those who are experiencing similar pain. www.newscanada.com * Determine what is causing the stress. Stress triggers vary depending on the individual, so men and women who are coping with excessive stress should write down anything that causes them a negative response, whether that response is physical, emotional or mental. After a week, sit down and look at the various things that triggered these negative responses. Choose one and work to resolve it. Determine if there is a way this trigger can be avoided. Do this with each trigger one by one. It might not be possible to successfully address each trigger, but it's worth the try and it is likely that certain triggers can be successfully avoided. exercise seems to give the body practice at dealing with stress. While exercising, the body's physiological systems are forced to communicate with one another. These same systems must also communicate with one another when responding to stress. Regular exercise helps the body communicate more efficiently, something that helps when the time comes to respond to stress. Stress at the office is likely always going to be a concern for working men and women. However, there are ways to effectively cope with stress no matter how daunting a workload might be. (MNS) Heavier workloads have left many workers dealing with elevated levels of stress. 20 010 Gold Aw ward Winne er Oa akv kville e Be Beaver eaver