In February and March, the Medical College's Wellness Program offered free customized and confidential health risk assessments (HRA) to all employees. It was a voluntary benefit aimed at providing employees with information regarding their current health status.
Every employee who completed a health risk assessment was entered into a drawing for four gifts. The winners of the gifts were recently chosen:
May 12, 2008 College News - The Medical College’s Wellness Program, which is dedicated to maximizing the health and productivity of MCW employees, will be offering periodic articles on how employees can improve their physical and mental health. This article highlights ways employees can reduce the amount of stress in their lives. The information comes from WELCOA, the Wellness Council of America.
About 64 percent of Americans are trying to reduce their stress level. Stress is a necessary phenomenon that we've all experienced, and life would be dull without it. So what it stress? Put simply, stress happens when a person's coping skills are outmatched by the demands the person believes they must face.
Stress directly affects physical health. Racing heartbeats and sweating are caused by hormones that help us cope with stress and other threats. If a stressor only lasts a short time, the physical effects will also be short. However, the longer a person feels stressed, the longer the body is reacting. This can lead to more serious and permanent health issues.
Myths and truths about stress Here are some common misconceptions and truths about stress and how it can be handled.
Everyone experiences the same type of stress.
Everyone does not experience the same type of stress. What is stressful for you may or may not be stressful for someone else, and each of us responds to stress differently.
Stress is never positive.
To the contrary, some stress can be extremely positive. For example, the birth of a child, or getting married.
We all experience stress and there's nothing you can do about it.
There are ways to counteract negative stress. Your best bets are establishing boundaries and setting priorities.
You should only be concerned when you experience major symptoms of stress.
Not necessarily. Even minor symptoms such as headaches or stomach acid are early warning signs. The key is to recognize and react.
How can you reduce your stress? There are many different ways to reduce your stress levels. Some are quick-fix methods for lowering stress like drinking alcohol or eating. These methods may provide quick relief to your stress, but are not long-term solutions to reducing you overall stress level, and are often unhealthy when done over a long period of time.
Here are some healthier ways to keep you mind and body ready to deal with stress.