| We've all been there. | | | | that lead to heart risk into account such as |
| Bombarded by work, email, phone calls or tedious | | | | cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking, inactivity, or |
| tasks. | | | | mental and emotional strain such as stress or |
| Some of us find time to relax on weekends, but the | | | | depression. |
| majority of us need a little R&R periodically | | | | I'm not a doctor by any means, but I think that we |
| throughout the week. | | | | could all take small steps each day to avoid stress or |
| MSNBC did a little researching on the topic with an | | | | at least counteract it. |
| editorial called "Relax or Die: Lack of Weekend R&R | | | | What can do you to relax when you are at work? |
| puts Hearts at Risk". This article suggests that those | | | | A brisk walk on a lunch break, deep breathing |
| who are not able to (or just plain don't try to) relax | | | | exercises, laughing, prayer, and surrounding yourself |
| on the weekends are more likely to die from a | | | | with calming elements, for example, family photos or |
| cardiovascular disease, such as heart disease or | | | | ambient music, are excellent ideas. |
| stroke. | | | | Cut down on caffeine, think positive thoughts, and |
| Researchers in Finland studied a group of nearly 800 | | | | take a minute for yourself when you need one. |
| workers for 28 years. Their study reveals that out | | | | Something that I do every so often is visit a blog |
| of their subjects, those who failed to find time to | | | | that is completely unrelated to the voice industry, the |
| recover from their workweek on weekends were | | | | field that I work in. |
| more likely to eventually die of cardiovascular disease. | | | | My sister-in-law Lisa, a graphic designer, introduced |
| The theory, as related by Dr. Mika Kivimaki, the | | | | me to a series of blogs from the design industry that |
| leader of the study, is as follows: | | | | she researches on a regular basis. |
| If people are not able to relax periodically or on | | | | While she prefers to gather information and ideas, I |
| weekends, plaques can build up in their arteries | | | | just let the colors, patterns, images, domesticity, and |
| (major channels that blood is pumped through), | | | | design layouts entertain me and alleviate any minor |
| leading to blockages (bad), which contribute to | | | | stresses that crop up. |
| potential heart attacks and or strokes (dangerous | | | | If you need to get away for a minute or two and |
| and often fatal), a culmination of events known in | | | | can't leave your desk, try visiting websites that cater |
| the medical field as underlying atherosclerosis. | | | | to your hobbies or lifestyle. |
| This may take years to build up, and there are many | | | | Take a moment to unwind each day while on the |
| factors that contribute to cardiovascular disease. | | | | job. Your heart and loved ones will thank you. |
| However, this study did not take the usual suspects | | | | |