Oxygen news: A change in perception could reduce stress, expert says
Portable oxygen can help people cope with stress and one expert has suggested additional methods anxious individuals can use.
Ann McCracken, chair of the International Stress Management Association, said it is often thought by sufferers that external pressures are the cause of emotional strain.
However, she urged people to recognise they have a part to play in coping with their reactions to events.
"Seeing situations as an opportunity to do things differently and taking a metaphoric step back to take some time to assess options can be a route to reducing the pressure the individual is experiencing," she explained.
This problem-solving approach to life puts people back in control of their lives, the specialist stated.
She warned comfort foods may not be a good way of coping with stress in the long-run, as the high fat and sugar content that tends to be associated with these treats risk adding bloating, lethargy and excess weight to an already serious list of potential health problems.
Conditions individuals under strain could be at increased threat of developing include eczema, psoriasis, asthma, high blood pressure and even heart attack and stroke.
Ms McCracken's advice and portable oxygen may be needed by many people, perhaps especially those in younger generations, as an ICM poll for GP-authored health website Patient.co.uk showed 43 per cent of those between 18 and 24 years old said they feel stressed because of the economic crisis, compared with 36 per cent of all age groups.
Posted by Jenny Richards
03/02/2012 14:04:09
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