Welcome to the Health
Information section of your School Districts Employee Wellness Website.
In it you will find general information on various health subjects and access to
related websites where you can find additional information.
This site has been designed with the intention of providing you with general
information only.
It is not intended to replace the advice of your physician or any other health
care provider. Nor is it intended to diagnose or treat or recommend treatment
for any medical condition or symptoms. If you have any symptoms, questions or
concerns you should contact your physician or health care professional
immediately.
| TOPICS | Stress | Health | Addiction | Fitness |
| Disease | Maternity | Preventative | Mental | Health Links |
STRESS
To subject to physical or psychological stress; a physical chemical or emotional
factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease
causation.
STRESS – Contributed by Eileen Dryzga, School Nurse
Simply put, a factor
that induces bodily or mental tension. It is generally believed that we
require a certain amount of stress in order to maintain our well-being. An
unavoidable consequence of life – “Without stress there would be no life”.
Stress can cause disease. Good stress can promote wellness.
People can experience either external or internal stressors.
External: Adverse
physical conditions/psychological environments.
Internal: Physical reaction/psychological stressor.
Can be defined as
Acute (short term) or Chronic (long term).
Acute: Reaction to an immediate threat (Fight or Flight).
After threat passes – “The Relaxation Response” - (Normalcy).
Chronic: On-going stressful situation that is not short-lived.
Positive/Negative
Effects
Can be an asset for raising levels of performance during crucial events or
crisis.
Can provide interest and excitement and motivates the individual to greater
achievement; lack of stress may lead to boredom. Inability to adapt to stress is
associated with the onset of depression or anxiety and can diminish the quality
of life by reducing feelings of pleasure and accomplishment: Relationships are
often threatened.
GENERAL GUIDELINES FOR REDUCING STRESS
Learning to control stress if life-long but will contribute to better health.
No single method is uniformly successful; a combination of approaches is
generally most effective.
What works for one
person does not necessarily work for someone else
SPECIFIC STRESS
REDUCTION METHODS
Exercise
Very important in combination with stress management techniques.
Is an effective distraction for stressful events.
Employees who follow an active lifestyle need fewer sick days than sedentary
workers.
Stress poses less danger in the physically active individual.
Nutrition
A healthy lifestyle is an essential companion to stress reduction.
A diet rich in a variety of whole grains, vegetables and fruits.
Avoidance of excessive alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.
Rest & Relaxation.
Restructure priorities.
Add stress reducing activities.
Add daily pleasant events.
Take long weekends/Vacations
Replace unnecessary time consuming chores with pleasurable ones or interesting
activities.
Make time for recreation.
If the source of stress is home, plan times away.
Interpersonal
Relationships / Conflict Resolution
Discuss feelings.
If feelings of anger or frustration are not expressed in an acceptable way, it
may lead to hostility, helplessness or depression.
Express feelings
Explain and assert one’s needs to a trusted individual in a positive way.
Learn to listen, empathize and respond to others with understanding (necessary
for maintaining strong relationships, for emotional fulfillment and reduced
stress).
Anger Management
Stress and anger often go hand-in-hand.
Unresolved feelings of anger can be a tremendous source of stress in all aspects
of life.
For additional information visit the following websites.
Coping with Stress: www.troublewith.com
Conquer Anxiety & Stress: www.conqueranxiety.com
Massage Therapy : www.amtamassage.org
Medical Basis of Stress, Depression, etc.: www.stress.about.com/cs/financialstress/
Medical Information: www.webmd.com
National Mental Health Association: www.nmha.org
The American Institute of Stress::
www.stress.org
The condition of being
sound in body, mind or spirit; freedom from physical disease or pain.
For additional information visit the following websites.
Medical Information: www.webmd.com
National Women’s Health Info Center: www.4woman.gov
The American Institute of Stress: www.stress.org
The Black Health Net: www.blackhealthnet.com
The Minority Health Network: www.omhrc.gov
Women’s Health Interactive:
www.womens-health.com
The quality or state
of being addicted: compulsive physiological need for a habit-forming drug.
ADDICTION – Contributed by Delilah J. Hunt, School Nurse
An addiction involves being abnormally tolerant to and dependent upon something
that is psychologically and /or physically habit forming. It not only affects
the individual, but their family, friends and social environment. Some
addictions include:
Drugs
Alcohol
Tobacco
Gambling
Internet
Food
Sex
Exercise
For additional information visit the following websites.
Alcoholics Anonymous: www.aa.org
Home Testing: www.pharm.uky.edu/HomeTest/KitsHP.html
Medical Information: www.webmd.com
Narcotics Anonymous: www.na.org
National Mental Health Association: www.nmha.org
Sexual Compulsive Anonymous: www.sca-recovery.org/
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FITNESS
Sound physically and mentally: HEALTHY
FITNESS – Contributed by Delilah J. Hunt, School Nurse
Physical fitness can be described as a condition that helps us look, feel and do
our best. It enables us to perform up to our potential and is a major basis for
good health and well-being.
The basic components of physical fitness are:
1) Cardio-respiratory Endurance- The ability to deliver oxygen and
nutrients to tissues and to remove waste over sustained periods of time. Long
runs and swims are examples of methods used to measure this component.
2) Muscular Strength- The ability of a muscle or of a group of
muscles to sustain repeated contractions or to continue applying force against a
fixed object. Push-ups are used to test arm & shoulder muscle endurance.
3) Flexibility- The ability to move joints and use muscles through
their full range of motion. Sit-And-Reach test is a good measure of
flexibility.
4) Body Composition- The make up of the body in terms of each mass
(muscle, bone, vital tissue and organs) and fat mass. An optimal ratio of fat
to lean mass is an indication of fitness.
For additional information visit the following websites.
Fitness Programs: www.globalfit.com
Massage Therapy: www.amtamassage.org
Medical Information: www.webmd.com
The Black Health Net: www.blackhealthnet.com
The Minority Health Network: www.omhrc.gov
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DISEASE
A condition of the living animal or plant body or one of its parts that impairs
the performance of a vital function: SICKNESS, MALADY. a harmful development.
For additional information visit the following websites.
AIDS Clinical Trials Information : www.actis.org
AIDS Holistic Services: www.rainbow-akron.com
Alcoholics Anonymous: www.aa.org
Alzheimer’s Association: www.alz.org
Allergy & Asthma Network: www.podi.com/health/aanma
American Cancer Society : www.cancer.org
American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org
Amer. Foundation for Urological Disease: www.AFUD.org
American Heart Association: www.americanheart.org
American Stroke Association: www.StrokeAssociation.org
Breast Cancer Resource Committee: www.afamerica.com/bcrc
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov
Hepatitis C Foundation: www.hepcfoundation.org
HIV/AIDS Treatment Information: www.hivatis.org
Lupus Foundation of America: www.lupus.org
Medical Information: www.webmd.com
Narcotics Anonymous: www.na.org
National Mental Health Association: www.nmha.org
The Memory Impairment Study:
www.memorystudy.org
MATERNITY
The quality or state of being a mother: MOTHERHOOD. Effective for the period
close to and including childbirth.
For additional information visit the following websites.
Alcoholics Anonymous: www.aa.org
HIV/AIDS Treatment Information: www.hivatis.org
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation: www.marchofdimes.com
Medical Information: www.webmd.com
Narcotics Anonymous: www.na.org
National Women’s Health Info Center: www.4woman.gov
Women’s Health Interactive: www.womens-health.com
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PREVENTIVE
Devoted to or concerned with prevention: PRECAUTIONARY. Undertaken to
forestall anticipated hostile action.
For additional information visit the following websites.
American Cancer Society: www.cancer.org
American Diabetes Association: www.diabetes.org
American Heart Association: www.americanheart.org
American Stroke Association: www.StrokeAssociation.org
March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation: www.marchofdimes.com
Medical Information: www.webmd.com
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MENTAL
Of or relating to the mind; of or relating to the total emotional and
intellectual response of an individual to his environment; occurring or
experienced in the mind; relating to the mind, its activity, or its products as
an object of study: of, relating to, or affected by a psychiatric disorder
MENTAL HEALTH – Contributed by Delilah J. Hunt, School Nurse
Mental health can be described as the way a person thinks, feels and acts when
faced with life’s situations. Mental health is how people look at themselves,
their lives and the other people in their lives. This includes:
Handling stress
Evaluating challenges and problems
Exploring choices
Relating to other people
Making decisions
Mental health problems affect one’s thoughts, body, feelings and behavior. They
can be severe enough to seriously interfere with a person’s life and cause a
person to be disabled. Mental health problems include;
Anxiety disorders
Depression
Conduct disorders
Eating disorders
Bi-polar disorders (manic-depressive illness)
Schizophrenia
For
additional information visit the following websites.
Coping with Stress:: www.troublewith.com
Conquer Anxiety & Stress:: www.conqueranxiety.com
Medical Information: www.webmd.com
Medical Basis of Stress, Depression, etc.: www.stress.about.com/cs/financialstress/
National Mental Health Association: www.nmha.org
The American Institute of Stress:: www.stress.org
The Memory Impairment Study:
www.memorystudy.org