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Home » Exercise Programs » Doctor Urges Healthy Choices, Positive Mindset – The SandPaper

The stressful circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic are taking a toll on peoples health and well-being, one medical expert confirms specifically in the form of weight gain from stress eating and decreased activity levels, hypertension and other anxiety-related issues.

Hackensack Meridian Healths David Leopold is an M.D. with multiple board certifications; hes also network medical director of integrative health and medicine, and assistant professor of medicine with the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine.

Based on his firsthand interactions with patients, Leopold provided some insight and advice about the side effects of the ongoing pandemic.

Leopold said virtually all his patients are reporting a significant increase in their overall stress and anxiety levels, which are major factors that contribute to and/or cause heart disease, high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes and obesity, all conditions that are on the rise in the U.S.

The correlation betweenthese particular ailments and the state of the world (not only the pandemic, but politics, climate change, technology overload) is undeniable.

We live in an extremely stressful time, and it is more important than ever that we adopt stress management skills to cope with these challenges, Leopold said. The good news is anyone can learn stress management skills, at any stage of life. Anyone can improve their lifestyle at any given time, and the results can make a profound impact on health.

In his experience, patients may be looking for medication or holistic solutions to address their problems, or a combination. To determine the best treatment course, Leopold advises consulting a physician who is knowledgeable in both.

My practice largely centers around natural solutions for mental health and medical conditions, so many of my patients do prefer to use a more natural approach, he said. The good news is there are several interventions that can be quite effective to reduce anxiety and improve stress. He strongly recommends patients talk to their doctors before attempting to self-treat, so a comprehensive evaluation can be done in order to select the most effective and safest route.

As a trusted professional, Leopold finds his patients will confide in him their worries and fears, both on a personal level and in a broader sense.

People are often relieved to be able to discuss their worries and fears with an objective practitioner, he said. I highly encourage this. Every individual has their own set of challenges that generate stress. What is important is that we develop ways to deal with these feelings in a productive way.

But there can be no relief from troubling feelings without first acknowledging those feelings exist, and persist.

The complaints vary greatly, he said. People are extremely concerned about safety and finances and the long-term effects of the pandemic.

At this point, most people at least know someone who has tested positive for COVID, have contracted it themselves, witnessed the impacts of the disease on others or lost someone close to them. Coronavirus concerns are compounded by normal day-to-day stressors, such as working from home, nurturing a marriage, raising children and overseeing their virtual learning. Normal life stress hasnt gone away or been put on hold while the pandemic has taken center stage.

Some of the physiological effects of the pandemic could be related to spending more time at home, being less active, dealing with family, holidays, or any number of aggravating factors, he said. For some people, Leopold said, staying home has been a relief, but for others it has exacerbated preexisting problems. For front-liners, teachers or anyone in direct public contact, he said, the pressure has been tremendous its multifactorial and includes their own safety.

All of that said, I prefer to think of this as a time when we all have an opportunity to regroup and recalibrate our approach to our health, Leopold suggested. To be healthy requires a more proactive approach. We dont live in a world where health comes easily. So you must work hard to be healthy. That starts with eating a healthy diet, remaining physically active, getting adequate sleep and, of course, learning how to manage stress and build resilience.

In my experience, all of these things are very doable, once people have the appropriate tools to make the changes necessary. We also have an opportunity to focus on the positives and the good fortune that many of us still have. The positive impacts of these lifestyle practices cannot be overstated.

To cope (albeit faultily), more and more patients are leaning on comfort foods and other unhealthful lifestyle choices, such as drinking more alcohol and being more sedentary. He also sees a trend of sacrificing sleep to binge-watch TV or stream shows.

How we deal with our stress dictates how we make decisions about our own health, Leopold said. Therefore, learning to manage stress and build resilience is key to remaining healthy and living well.

Another unhealthful choice, in his view, is the choice not to establish a regular stress management practice. His rule of thumb is: If youre not actively working to combat stress, then stress is negatively affecting your health in some way.

To encourage healthier nutritional patterns, Leopold said, one thing healthcare providers can do is to make patients aware of the importance of healthful food choices and to offer instruction and resources on easy ways to prepare healthier meals. Remaining physically active is a challenge, he admitted, but if the weather is good, people can simply walk outside, and there are almost unlimited exercise programs that people can do at home. (Finding the motivation is another matter. Embarking on a routine with a loved one or friend, or listening to music/podcast/audiobook can make exercising more enjoyable.)

I also strongly recommend people prioritize sleep, treating it like any other important appointment they would keep, Leopold said. The most effective way is simply to schedule the time you plan to go to sleep and the time youre going to wake up.

Finally, he concluded, keep a positive mindset. A good way to do this is to keep a gratitude journal. Or, simply verbally express three things for which you are grateful for each day. This is a wonderful thing for families to do together, particularly during these very difficult times.

I recommend scheduling a time for all these things.

Otherwise, they dont happen.

The most important thing when implementing change, he said, is simply to start, then repeat on a regular basis until it becomes a habit.

Victoria Ford

victoria@thesandpaper.net

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Doctor Urges Healthy Choices, Positive Mindset - The SandPaper

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Home » Exercise Programs » Doctor Urges Healthy Choices, Positive Mindset – The SandPaper