Five Free (and Fun)
Ways to Stay Fit
With Your Family
For families on a budget, free is a welcome
requisite for keeping everyone active. And exercise,
especially today, is essential for families. Children
6 years of age and older should be getting at least
60 minutes of exercise a day, says the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
Here are five free, fun ways to stay active:
Walk. It's so obvious and it's so easy.
Dance. Make it a family thing to get the
heart pumping along with some music
that's jumping.
Bike. Just like a walk on a trail, bicycling will
be something that could stick with a child
forever. Be certain to wear a helmet.
Yard work. Get fit and accomplish something!
Play. A lot of times, this is going to involve
a ball. A ball to kick, a ball to throw, a ball
to shoot. Visit the local playground
or playing fields.
Is it Stress,
Anxiety or
Panic?
While we often think of stress
and anxiety in the context
of mental health, they can
affect physical health, as well.
Anyone who has experienced
anxiety understands how it
can feel physically when you're
stressed or anxious; your heart may
race, you may have headaches,
or your stomach can feel like it's in knots.
If you find yourself stressed and anxious on more
days than not, or if you have a hard time keeping
your worry under control, you're not alone. Most
people experience anxiety at some point in their
lives, and more than 18% of adults in the U.S. have
an anxiety disorder.
Stress is your body's response to a tense
or difficult situation. Anxiety caused by
stress lasts longer than the stressful
event. Many find it hard to keep anxious
feelings under control and have
excessive worry outside of a specific
stressful event (for at least six months).
Anxiety attacks and symptoms
like sweating, rapid heart rate,
and trouble breathing can be
uncomfortable but are not
uncommon.
Panic attacks are like anxiety attacks
but usually happen without warning.
Frequent panic attacks may be caused
by an anxiety disorder called panic disorder.
Whether you're experiencing anxiety for the first time
or managing an anxiety disorder, remember you're not
alone. Together with your doctor, friends and family,
you can find ways to manage your stress and anxiety
so you can maintain a healthy mind and body.
For ideas on keeping stress and anxiety at bay,
visit blog.providence.org and search for "stress."
Get more family health tips, tools and resources
for raising healthy kids: Download the Circle by
Providence app for your smartphone.
READ ON YOUR TABLET OR PHONE: PROVIDENCE.ORG/HEARTBEAT 5
The impor tant thing is to move!
Walk, bike, run or dance. Make it
a par t of your ever yday life.
