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Step into summer in the best shape of your life with these reports from Harvard Medical School.
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Start your exercise and fitness program and reap the benefits of being more fit, stronger and healthier!

Warmer weather is on the way and it's not too late to get in shape for the summer. These 3 reports can help you enjoy outdoor activities in the best shape of your life:

Stress

Michael Craig Miller, M.D., and Martha StewartWatch Dr. Michael C. Miller, editor in chief of the Harvard Mental Health Letter, talk with Martha Stewart about reducing stress. 

 

 

 

 

Free tools to help you cope with stress

In a world bursting with situations that can cause stress — such as traffic jams, layoffs, illness, and money woes — it's not surprising that many people are feeling stressed out. This online resource center will help you to understand the ways in which daily stress affects your body and how you can reduce these damaging effects. You'll find links to a variety of tools and publications on this page. We hope you find them helpful!

 

Portable guide to stress relief [PDF]

stress illustration

Whether you have only one minute or half an hour, you’ll find a helpful stress-busting suggestion in this guide. (view as HTML)

How stress affects your body

stress illustration

An interactive illustration that shows how stress triggers a cascade of physical changes that prepare you to fight a perceived threat—or flee.

Video: How to measure your blood pressure at home

stress illustration

Stress causes blood pressure to rise. This video shows how to monitor your blood pressure at home so that you can make sure it’s not rising too high.

Q&A: The impact of stress

Q and A

Five common questions about how stress affects your health. The answers help reveal why stress often feels so bad.

 

Stress Related Articles from our Newsletters

Harvard Mental Health Letter
Strains on the heart
A pair of studies found that increased, prolonged strain in people's close relationships or jobs correlated with an increased risk for a cardiac event. [January 2008]
Resilience
Resilience is the ability to handle stressful events and remain mentally strong and healthy. The presence of a certain form of neurochemical may be one explanation for why some people are more resilient than others. [December 2006]
Caregiver stress: When helpers need help
A nine-year study shows that caring for a physically or mentally ill spouse is particularly stressful, and affects the physical and mental health of the caregiver. [May 2006]

Harvard Health Letter
Sing along for health
Research finds that group singing can boost the mood, relieve stress, promote relaxation, and enhance the immune system. Singing along with a group may also be beneficial for people with certain speech disorders. [March 2007]

Harvard Heart Letter
Are big surges in blood pressure dangerous?
When I am under great stress, my blood pressure sometimes shoots up to 200/120 but then quickly goes down to 120/80 or lower and stays there. One doctor told me that spikes like these are normal. Another told me this isn't healthy. Who is right? [January 2009]
It's time to accentuate the positive
A study found that people who maintained a positive approach to life in their thoughts and feelings, referred to as high emotional vitality, had a lower risk of heart disease. [May 2008]

Harvard Men's Health Letter
Optimism and your health
Numerous studies have shown an association between a positive, optimistic life outlook and lower risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and coronary artery disease, as well as better overall health and improved longevity. [May 2008]

Harvard Women's Health Letter
Anxiety and physical illness
Persistent anxiety can contribute to respiratory disorders, gastrointestinal problems, and heart disease. Treating anxiety with psychotherapy, medications, or a combination can reduce or relieve physiological distress. [July 2008]
Recognizing the mind-skin connection
The development of the field of psychodermatology aims to study how emotional issues can affect the skin, particularly when a condition resists conventional treatment. [November 2006]

 

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