(NewsUSA) - Whether it's from everyday deadlines, financial struggles, or the COVID-19 pandemic, stress shows up often in life. And your body reacts to it: your heart rate increases, your blood vessels narrow -- and over time, these little blows can add up and do damage to your health, particularly your heart. With chronic stress, you're more likely to have high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and poor sleep. Even other parts of your body -- from your lungs to your gut -- can take a hit.

But while you can't always limit the amount of stress in your life, you can work on changing how you respond to it. Just like the automatic "fight or flight" response that kicks in when you're scared -- your muscles tense, heart rate increases, and brain becomes more alert-- your body also has a built-in, healthy relaxation response. When that's triggered, the opposite happens: your breathing and heart rate slow down, and your blood pressure decreases.

Luckily, with practice, you can learn to trigger that response. Try these techniques on your own or find a teacher or class to help you get started. Don't get discouraged if you don't get the hang of it quickly. And if one approach doesn't work for you, try something new. You can learn to de-stress in lots of other ways.

Meditation. One of the most studied approaches for managing stress, this involves developing your ability to stay focused on the present, instead of worrying about the past or future. Find a quiet location with as few distractions as possible. Get comfortable by either sitting, lying or walking. Focus your attention on a specific word or set of words, an object or your breathing. And let distractions, including thoughts, come and go without judgment.

Progressive muscle relaxation. To feel the effect, first tense your muscles for a few seconds, then relax them. Start by tensing and relaxing your toes, then your calves and on up to your face. Do one muscle group at a time.

Deep breathing. Take in a slow, deep breath, let your stomach or chest expand and then exhale slowly. Repeat a few times. Many people don't breathe deeply, but it is relaxing and something you can do anytime, anywhere.

Guided imagery. This involves a series of steps that include relaxing and visualizing the details of a calm, peaceful setting, such as a garden.

Practice self-compassion. Understand that life's challenges are inevitable. Give yourself the care and tenderness you need when experiencing difficulty.

Getting your mind and body to a place of calm doesn't always mean being still, however. Other healthy ways to manage stress include taking a yoga or tai chi class, talking to a professional counselor, joining a stress management program or an art class, or meeting up with friends for a brisk walk. Being in nature can be very soothing for some people.

Combining de-stressors such as these with other healthy habits can go a long way toward strengthening your heart. Eat more veggies, fruits and whole grains, and less sodium, sugar and saturated fats, for example. Move your body more -- such as through dancing and walking meetings. Find exercises you actually love and do them regularly. Get enough good, quality sleep. And develop a strong social support system. Then rethink some of the familiar ways you may be coping with stress, such as drinking alcohol frequently, using drugs and other substances, smoking or overeating. They can actually worsen your stress -- and your health.

Taking care of your heart health is a lifelong journey, but at a time when the risk of severe illness from COVID-19 remains higher in people with poor cardiovascular health, learning new ways to make your heart strong has become even more important.

You can learn more about heart health from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute by visiting www.nhlbi.nih.gov. If you need help finding additional resources to help you cope with stress, talk to a healthcare provider. Seek urgent care if you can't cope at all or have suicidal thoughts. Resources are also available at nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help.

(NewsUSA) - Se trate de los plazos de entrega diarios, las dificultades financieras o la pandemia de COVID-19, el estrés aparece a menudo en la vida y su cuerpo reacciona: su frecuencia cardiaca aumenta, sus vasos sanguíneos se contraen y, con el tiempo, estos pequeños impactos se acumulan y dañan su salud, particularmente su corazón. Con el estrés crónico, es más probable que tienda a desarrollar hipertensión, cardiopatía, diabetes, obesidad y trastornos del sueño. Incluso otras partes del cuerpo pueden verse afectadas; desde los pulmones hasta los intestinos.

Aunque no siempre es posible limitar la cantidad de estrés en su vida, puede modificar su respuesta ante él. Al igual que la respuesta automática de "luchar o huir" que se gatilla cuando siente miedo y sus músculos se tensan, su frecuencia cardiaca aumenta y el cerebro está más alerta, su cuerpo también tiene incorporada una respuesta saludable de relajación. Cuando se gatilla, sucede lo opuesto: su ritmo respiratorio y frecuencia cardiaca disminuyen y su presión arterial baja.

Afortunadamente, con la práctica, puede aprender a activar esa respuesta. Pruebe las siguientes técnicas por su cuenta o busque un instructor o una clase que le ayuden a comenzar. No se desanime si no agarra el ritmo rápidamente. Además, si un método no da resultado, pruebe con otro nuevo. Puede aprender a reducir el estrés de muchas otras maneras.

Meditación. Uno de los enfoques más estudiados para manejar el estrés, implica desarrollar la capacidad de mantenerse concentrado en el presente y no preocuparse por el pasado o el futuro. Busque un lugar tranquilo donde haya la menor cantidad posible de distracciones. Póngase cómodo, ya sea sentado, recostado o caminando. Centre su atención en una palabra específica o un grupo de palabras, un objeto o su respiración. Deje que las distracciones, incluidos los pensamientos, vengan y se vayan sin juzgarlos.

Relajación muscular progresiva. Para sentir este efecto, primero, tense los músculos por unos segundos y luego relájelos. Comience tensando y relajando los dedos del pie, después las pantorrillas y siga subiendo hasta la cara. Trabaje un grupo muscular a la vez.

Respiración profunda. Inhale de manera lenta y profunda, dejando expandir el estómago o el pecho y, luego, exhale lentamente. Repita un par de veces. Muchas personas no respiran profundamente, pero es algo relajante que puede hacer en cualquier momento y lugar.

Imágenes guiadas. Esto implica una serie de pasos que incluyen relajarse y visualizar los detalles de un lugar tranquilo y apacible como, por ejemplo, un jardín.

Practicar la autocompasión. Comprenda que los desafíos de la vida son inevitables. Dedíquese el cuidado y la atención que necesita cuando esté atravesando dificultades.

No obstante, llevar su cuerpo y su mente a un lugar de tranquilidad no siempre significa estar quieto. Otras maneras saludables de manejar el estrés son las clases de yoga o taichí, conversar con un consejero profesional, participar en un programa para el control del estrés o una clase de arte, o reunirse con amigos para dar una caminata rápida. Para algunas personas, estar en medio de la naturaleza es muy tranquilizante.

Combinar estos factores desestresantes con otros hábitos saludables puede ser muy beneficioso para fortalecer su corazón. Coma más verduras, frutas y granos enteros y consuma menos sodio, azúcar y grasas saturadas, por ejemplo. Muévase más, por ejemplo, a través del baile o juntándose con otras personas a caminar. Busque ejercicios que realmente le gusten y practíquelos periódicamente. Procure tener un sueño de calidad y suficiente, y desarrolle un sistema sólido de apoyo social. Después, reconsidere algunas de las maneras habituales que tiene para lidiar con el estrés, como beber alcohol a menudo, consumir drogas u otras sustancias, fumar o comer en exceso. Estas cosas, de hecho, pueden empeorar su estrés y su salud.

Cuidar de su salud cardiaca es un proceso de toda la vida, pero en tiempos en los que el riesgo de sufrir una enfermedad grave por COVID-19 sigue siendo más alto para las personas con problemas de salud cardiovascular, aprender nuevas maneras de fortalecer el corazón es aún más importante.

Puede obtener más información sobre la salud cardiaca en el sitio web del National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (Instituto Nacional del Corazón, los Pulmones y la Sangre), en www.nhlbi.nih.gov. Si necesita asistencia para encontrar más recursos que le ayuden a lidiar con el estrés, consulte a un profesional de la salud. Busque atención de urgencia si no puede afrontarlo o si tiene pensamientos suicidas. También encontrará recursos en nimh.nih.gov/health/find-help/ayuda-para-la-salud-mental.

(NewsUSA) - Now more than ever, it is important to make good decisions about your health. COVID-19 and its variant descendants will likely be a part of life for years to come. Doing your best to maintain a healthy immune system protects you, your family and your community, even as the pandemic fades into the background.

The ongoing pandemic has highlighted the importance of making good choices for your health. Many people remain fearful and anxious, but it doesn't have to be that way. Taking care of yourself is the best way to move forward and reclaim your life.

A strong immune system activates your body's natural defenses to block the activity of a virus and stop it from spreading. Following a healthy lifestyle can help you support and maintain a healthy immune system. This means eating well and exercising regularly. However, anyone who is especially concerned about immune system support, such as older individuals and those with pre-existing health conditions, may want to consider oral supplements.

The QuadraMune supplement is for anyone who wants extra immune system support to help protect themselves not only from COVID-19 viruses, but also from other germs and illnesses that are constantly circulating.

QuadraMune is an all-natural supplement that is clinically proven to help promote a healthy and fully functioning immune system by enhancing the activity of Th1 cells and suppressing inflammation. The easy-to-take oral capsules contain several key ingredients that have demonstrated immune system support.

- Pterostilbene. This natural dietary compound has demonstrated antioxidant activity and inflammatory properties. It also is found in lower concentrations in such nutritional superfoods as blueberries, almonds and grape leaves.

- Epigallocatechin gallate. This powerful antioxidant plant compound has been getting attention for its antioxidant properties and potential ability to help protect the lungs and promote healthy T cell activity.

- Sulphoraphane. This natural plant compound has been shown to help reduce inflammation. This feature may help protect your lungs and reduce your vulnerability to respiratory infections.

QuadraMune also contains an active ingredient that is chemically related to hydroxychloroquine, but with no prescription needed.

Visit buyquadramune.com for more information about QuadraMune and how you can be confident, stay healthy and enjoy life.

(NewsUSA) - This February, American Heart Month, you can learn critical information about sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) that could help you save a life. Three key things to remember:

1. SCA is not a heart attack: SCA is an "electrical" problem affecting the heart rhythm, and a heart attack is a "plumbing" problem affecting blood flow.

It's a very common misperception that a heart attack and SCA are the same thing. However, they are very different.

A heart attack occurs when part of the heart's blood supply is reduced due to a partial or complete blockage, and the heart muscle becomes injured or dies.

SCA, on the other hand, is related to the heart's internal electrical system. When this system fails, it may trigger a dangerously fast heartbeat causing the heart to quiver and stop pumping blood to the body and brain. This can cause a victim to pass out suddenly -- this is SCA.

"A heart attack victim is usually awake and can seek help, but a sudden cardiac arrest victim typically passes out immediately and must rely on others to provide immediate treatment," says Mary Newman, president and CEO of the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation.

"The two conditions require vastly different treatment. The chance of survival following a sudden cardiac arrest decreases 10 percent with every passing minute."

Though a heart attack and SCA are different, they are sometimes linked.

Brent Miller, 50, survived both. Brent knew something wasn't right when he started to experience frequent severe crushing chest pain in early 2021. He was an avid runner, so a heart problem may not have seemed likely. However, Brent knew to not ignore his symptoms. He went to the hospital and learned he was having a heart attack.

Brent's doctors implanted a stent in his heart to restore blood flow. The quick medical attention saved his life, but the heart attack weakened his heart's pumping ability. This condition put him at risk for sudden cardiac arrest. As part of his recovery, his doctor recommended he wear a lifesaving wearable defibrillator known as LifeVest for protection.

Watch Brent's story on the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation website.

2. SCA is sudden by its very nature; often the first sign a person has this condition is that they collapse and experience cardiac arrest.

SCA has no warning signs. However, there are factors that may indicate someone is at risk for SCA. For example, certain heart patients may be at increased risk, including those who have suffered a heart attack or have been newly diagnosed with heart failure.

Anyone who feels they might be at risk should see a cardiologist for evaluation. If you are at risk for SCA, a doctor may recommend a wearable defibrillator, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, medications, or other measures to prevent sudden death.

In Brent's case, following his heart attack, his doctors determined he was at high risk for SCA and prescribed LifeVest, a wearable defibrillator designed to detect certain life-threatening rapid heart rhythms and automatically deliver a lifesaving treatment shock.

"My SCA was very immediate; I did not feel it was coming on at all," says Brent. "I was talking to my wife, and I collapsed."

Learn how Brent survived sudden cardiac arrest on the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation website.

3. An SCA victim requires immediate emergency care, including CPR and a defibrillation shock -- and you can help.

If you witness what you think is sudden cardiac arrest, the first thing to do is to call 911 immediately before administering urgent and immediate care. After calling 911, start CPR compressions: Push hard and fast on the center of the chest. An SCA victim requires defibrillation and bystanders should seek an AED (automated external defibrillator) to provide treatment.

If a patient is wearing LifeVest, which does not require third-party intervention, the device is designed to prompt bystanders to step aside while treatment is delivered.

When Brent experienced SCA, he was at home in his bedroom. He suddenly lost consciousness. LifeVest detected the abnormal heart rhythm and delivered a treatment shock that saved his life.

"If I wasn't wearing LifeVest that day, I have no doubt that I would have died," Brent says. "I'm just extremely grateful."

With appropriate therapy, cardiac patients can often return to doing many of the things they enjoy. After experiencing both a heart attack and SCA, Brent has recovered and undergone cardiac rehab. He continues to run and is now training for a half-marathon in April.

Learn more:

• Watch Brent's story.
• Visit the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation website for more information. The mission of the foundation is to raise public awareness of sudden cardiac arrest and promote initiatives that help save lives.

(NewsUSA) - More than ever, people rely on the internet for work and entertainment and to connect with others.

The COVID-19 pandemic has driven the need for consumer and business connectivity. Throughout the pandemic, it has played a critical role; allowing businesses to continue operations, adapt to a dynamic environment and embrace the ability to serve their customers online. From craftsmen to consultants, today's businesses need a reliable connection to sell products, manage projects, process payments and simply stay in touch with customers.

Business continuity and back-up internet have become especially critical during the pandemic because they allow businesses to remain competitive by keeping their digital doors open. As a backup service, satellite internet can seamlessly keep businesses located in urban areas online when their primary ground-based connections have outages, or after natural disasters. Business continuity internet is just that: business services that keep going regardless of extenuating circumstances, even when others quit.

A single damaged cable can mean lost revenue, disrupted workflows, and a hit to customer trust.

According to International Data Corporation, 80% of small businesses have experienced downtime at some point in the past, with costs in the range of $82,200 to $256,000 for a single event.

Satellite internet backup offers true diversified redundancy. It doesn't depend on local terrestrial networks, which are vulnerable to damage. Even if a business has a fast cable or fiber connection, all it takes is someone digging a hole in the wrong place to bring operations to a screeching halt.

A redundant satellite internet connection enables businesses to continue operations immediately after their primary connection has been lost, as well as throughout the repair and recovery process.

Today's satellite internet offers a full spectrum of business services virtually anywhere, at fast broadband speeds. That means multiple locations across all types of landscapes can use a single, reliable satellite provider as an internet backup option to ensure they can continue to serve their customers.

Business continuity isn't a product to be bought. It's a mindset; a dedication to keep the lights on, to keep customers satisfied and to take care of employees through any challenge.

As with any business plan, it pays to plan ahead. In many cases, satellite may well prove to be the ultimate, and simplest, continuity plan.

To learn more about how satellite-based internet enables business continuity, click here.

(NewsUSA) - As January stretches on and the midwinter blahs kick in, consider a healthy way to perk up your day -- Chilean cherries.

Although cherries are available domestically in the United States in the summer months, in the winter they bring a much-needed burst of color and flavor. Winter cherries come from the Southern Hemisphere, primarily from Chile in South America. Chile's diverse climate lends itself to growing many types of fruit, including cherries.

Cherries not only taste great, they also pack a powerful nutritional punch. Chilean cherries are rich in antioxidants, as well as vitamin C, which is important to maintaining a healthy immune system.

Chilean cherries also contain vitamins A and K, along with potassium, magnesium and even some of your recommended daily amount of calcium. Cherries are a tasty source of fiber, too.

A one-cup serving of cherries provides 25% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin C, according to the Chilean Cherry Committee. In addition, cherry consumption also may help reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease. But wait, there's more. Cherries contain a healthy dose of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin.

"When it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it's summer in Chile, so that means you can enjoy delicious, sweet cherries through the winter," says Karen Brux, managing director for the Chilean Fresh Fruit Association. "For a taste of summer, look to Chile," she says.

Brux also shared some ideas for how to "Cherrish" Every Moment with Chilean Cherries, and share the taste of Chilean cherries with others.

- Sweeten it up. You can "Cherrish" Every Moment by stirring a cup of halved and pitted Chilean cherries into your banana smoothie. Add some cocoa powder for a true chocolate-covered cherry experience. A winter cherry tart or Chilean Cherry Chocolate Chip Muffins can hit the sweet spot, too.

- Savor the flavor. "Cherrish" the taste of Chilean cherries in a variety of savory recipes. Chilean cherries add just the right pop of flavor and texture to a mixed green salad or a wild rice side dish.

Look for cherries from Chile at your local retailer from December into February, and visit fruitsfromchile.com for more information and recipes.