Monday saw the start of the annual Men’s Health Week, which is running from 9th – 15th
June, fittingly coming to a close on the day dedicated to those who
need a gentle reminder about their health the most – Our father’s.
The week has been held for many years and is organised by the Men’s
Health Forum, an independent charity this year and will primarily be
focusing on health and work, including ways to avoid stress, overworking
and coping with unemployment.
Men – including the majority of fathers –
are rarely thought of as ‘victims’ and instead typically regarded as
the main breadwinner of the household, and macho types who certainly
need no molycoddling. As such, male health can be often overlooked as
this apparent need to show a toughness can unfortunately mask their
vulnerability and any psychological issues they may have. Remember that
in this day and age, stereotypes don’t always apply and could actually
be dangerous to men’s health.
There are around one in eight men living with a mental health problem
such as depression, anxiety, and phobia. Figures indicate men spend
more of their lifetime at the workplace compared to women, and twice as
more likely to be working full time. This can mean extra stress and is
highly detrimental to a man’s general health and wellbeing.
Statistics show that in the previous 30 years three to four times
more men than women have taken their lives and there has never been a
time in those three decades that suicide rates in women have been
greater than that for men.
In recent years, the poor financial climate in the UK has not helped
matters. The fallout of a crippling recession has led to increased worry
about job security, men feeling pressurised into working longer hours
for fear of their jobs, a sustained fear of redundancy, and overall
poorer job performance. To further highlight the growing problems, a
2011 Croner survey show that nearly half of workers (48%) stated they
were more stressed than just a year previously.
With all this in mind, Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy run through some great ways at managing stress to ensure a more happy home and work life.
. Fresh air can make a big difference
Nobody likes being cooked up indoors all day long, especially if we
have been blessed with some rare good weather! Being outdoors also
boosts the production of the chemical serotonin, which is important to
regulate moods and sleep. Bananas are an excellent source to increase
the production, so weather permitting, consider getting out of the
office for a stroll outdoors each day and also get one of your 5-a-day
in the process!
. Be active
After all, human beings are created to move about, not sit on a chair
all day. Exercise can reduce the risk of major illness such as cancer,
diabetes, heart disease and stroke by up to 50%, but it is also great
for your spirits! Endorphins, also known as the ‘happy hormones’ are
feel good neurotransmitters that are released during any type of
physical activity, and help to modulate diet, create a feeling of
euphoria and enhance immune response. All this will help to fight the
negative effects of stress. It is also vital for people to engage in
sports or physical activities they enjoy and to start off slow to reduce
the risk of injury and lack of motivation.
. Get more sleep
Stress and sleep often go hand-in-hand and form a vicious cycle,
which can spiral unless managed correctly. Stress individuals tend to
have more problems with sleeping, causing exhaustion, additional stress,
and then even more problems for sleep levels. However, managing stress
levels can alleviate sleep levels, and vice versa. For those not wanting
to rely on sleep medication to drift off, think about maximising your
relaxation prior to bedtime in order to help reach the 7-9 hours sleep
that most adults require each night. Try to refrain from caffeine and
alcohol in the evenings if this impacts sleep, and stop any mentally
demanding work several hours before retiring to bed so that your brain
can switch off and calm down. Going to bed at a similar time each night
may also help and get your body used to a set routine of when to sleep
and awake.
. Learn to manage your time
Those with a number of goals within a ‘to do list’ are best realising
that these cannot be done all at once. By accepting doing everything
simultaneously is impossible, tasks can be prioritised and even
delegated onto others where possible. Write down what needs to be done
and when it needs doing. For instance, what needs to be completed this
week, this month, or by the end of the year? Make a list of everything
in order of priority and tasks can then be broken down into smaller,
more manageable tasks to be completed over a longer time-frame,
resulting in less stress.
. Talk to someone
Connecting with others going through similar experiences can be a
huge weight off the shoulders and it can be a stress reliever to just be
aware there are many others in the same boat. After all, a problem
shared is a problem halved. Building a good support network of friends
and family can be hugely beneficial and provide a buffer from the
negative impact of stress. There are also plenty of online forums
dedicated to just about every issue there is and this provides further
opportunity to talk to others dealing with stress and learn about how
they deal with it.
Medical Specialists™ Pharmacy hope these stress-busting tips help.
However, visit the Men’s Health Forum website for more information
regarding Men’s Health Week, including how to get involved, and
excellent FAQs about stress, depression and health at work.
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