Saturday, July 09, 2011

Health Tips for July 9

Health Tip: The Benefits of Meditation

Meditation is gaining attention as a potential way to maintain well-being and good health. It can calm your mind, relax your body, and soothe your spirit. In addition, it's inexpensive and its risks are minimal.

Meditation techniques aren't new. They've been around for thousands of years. Anyone can meditate, regardless of religious or cultural background.

Consider these suggestions from the Mayo Clinic to get you started:

  • Select a meditation technique that fits your lifestyle and belief system. Many people build meditation into their daily routine.
  • Set aside some time. Start with 5-minute meditation sessions once or twice a day and work up to 20 minutes each time.
  • Keep trying. Be kind to yourself as you get started. If you're meditating and your attention wanders, slowly return to the object, sensation or movement you're focusing on.
  • Make meditation part of your life. Many people prefer to start and end their day with a period of meditation. Others prefer to take meditation breaks during the day. Experiment and find out what works best for you.

Health Tip: Do You Have a Phobia?

While fear is a normal reaction to a perceived danger, a phobia may be diagnosed when a fear is exaggerated or irrational.

The American Psychiatric Association says these symptoms may indicate a phobia:

  • Feelings of terror, horror, panic or dread.
  • Self-understanding that the fear goes beyond the actual danger.
  • Fear that is so extreme that it interferes with thoughts and actions.
  • Physical symptoms such as feeling short of breath, a rapidly beating heart or trembling.
  • Going out of the way to avoid situations that trigger the phobia, such as flying.

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