Survey Reveals Americans Manage Stress Poorly
iVillage
As it turns out, living in the moment isn't always the best way to stay healthy.
When it comes to how humans battle stress, the war is better fought with a little forward thinking. Reaching for a glistening Krispy Kreme, for instance, has a remarkably soothing effect on our psyche. It is also, according to a recent national survey, one type of quick-fix that stressed-out Americans, especially women, turn to for momentary relief.
Based on a survey conducted by the American Psychological Association (APA), in conjunction with the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC), and iVillage, Americans have many coping mechanisms to handle stress — almost none of which are particularly helpful in the fight against long-term stress reduction.
The Gender Divide
Who's stressed out? In the randomized telephone survey of Americans
18 and over, just over half of the country feels they are coping
well with their daily multitasking lives while the other half is
not. Forty-seven percent of respondents — a slight majority
of whom are women — say they are concerned about the level of
stress in their lives. The other 53 percent believe it is not a
significant issue.
While we all tend to exhibit similar symptoms of stress, gender is still a great divider in how we experience that daily pressure. Women say they feel a lack of energy, a desire to cry and sadness, while men respond with irritability and anger. Women categorically outrank men when asked which stress-related symptoms they experience with frequency. The only symptoms men report feeling more often than women are sleeping pattern changes and teeth grinding. The majority of symptoms ‑-fatigue, anger, sadness, loss of energy, headaches, muscle tension, tearfulness, stomach problems, appetite changes, dizziness and tightness of chest — are all reportedly experienced more by women than men.
Women are also more likely than men to report health problems like hypertension, anxiety, depression and obesity. The question this begs, of course, is whether women are more willing to divulge this information or are men simply less susceptible to the physical manifestations of stress?
Healthy, Wealthy and Worry-Free?
Money won't buy us love, but it may buy us happiness. According to
the APA survey, if you're like most Americans, you stress mainly
over health and financial situations. While we tend to think of men
as the ones who harbor socioeconomic concerns, results show 28
percent of women consider money a "very significant" source of
stress versus 19 percent of men. And, yes, the less money you make,
the more likely you are to feel the impact of stress on your life.
Other demographics that overwhelmingly bear the burden of stress
are single parents, African-American women and Latinas.
These statistics run parallel to last week's report published in The Journal of the American Medical Association that found one's health is directly tied to his or her wealth. As an explanation of the results, the study's author, Dr. Michael Lauer told the New York Times, "Some people think that poverty causes stress to the autonomic nervous system, the part that regulates blood pressure and heart rate. [This kind of] stress...can manifest as hypertension and poor fitness."
Compounding this problem is the finding that those who experience the most stress tend to engage in the least healthful behaviors, such as smoking, binging on junk food, and not exercising. According to APA survey results, one in four Americans turns to food to help alleviate stressful situations. So-called comfort eaters experience higher levels of stress than average and exhibit greater levels of the most common symptoms of stress, including fatigue, lack of energy, nervousness, sleep problems and irritability. The more fast-food a person eats, the more stress he or she reports, indicating a connection between poor eating choices and a stressed-out mental state. It may come as no surprise, then, that comfort eaters suffer from health problems like hypertension and high cholesterol more often than the average American.
How Can Something So Wrong Feel So Right?
As a matter of survival, stress sends the body into overdrive to
protect it from perceived danger. The body is on alert, ready for
warfare. This protective instinct, however, is not meant to stay
activated for long periods of time, which is why chronic stress
will cause the system to eventually burn out — a sort of
battle fatigue that wipes out the immune system and depletes energy
reserves. It's no wonder, then, that people tend to reach for
sweets in times of duress. Quick carbohydrates like sugar deliver
immediate energy and a wallop of serotonin to the brain. A 2003
study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of
Sciences showed that, in rats, these types of comfort foods
could actually blunt the effects of stress on the
brain — for the short-term.
Eating junk food as a coping mechanism can further complicate stress-related health problems down the line by increasing insulin resistance. Stress alone can wreak havoc on one’s blood-sugar levels. Pouring high-sugar food into the bloodstream while your body is already under duress can lead to a hypoglycemic state, characterized by headache, dizziness, anxiety, shaking and irritability. Over time, this kind of heightened sugar level can cause more stress, exhaustion, and depression, not to mention a host of illnesses like diabetes and obesity.
Findings from the APA survey support this. Sixty-five percent of those who describe themselves as comfort eaters are somewhat or extremely overweight and are twice as likely as the average American to be diagnosed with obesity.
Coping Vs. Curing
Results of the APA survey seem to indicate that, as a nation of instant gratification, we tend to soothe the symptoms by turning to friends and family for support, relying on faith or prayer to get us through, or seeking alone time to tune out to the television or escape in a book -- all of which can be beneficial, to a degree. Recent studies suggest that how an individual responds to stress may begin even before he or she can learn to prevent it. Exposure to stressful situations early on in life can trigger an overly reactive stress response to difficult situations later on in life. Stress can actually cause the brain to rewire itself, so even though we may be experiencing an everyday obstacle, our stress response is, "fight for your life."
The real way to combat stress experts say is by managing it proactively -- before, not during, stressful situations. It's about finding the right technique for you, whether it be yoga, mindfulness, meditation, biofeedback, therapy or exercise. The key, says Saki Santorelli of the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, is listening to your body and figuring out what brings you calm -- and then doing it daily if necessary.
Health Conscious vs. Image Conscious
McClain's Orange County
Are Southern Californians obsessed with their looks, or are good looks just a by-product of a healthy lifestyle?
Your boxes are packed; your moving checklist is halfway complete. Besides worrying about adjusting to a new neighborhood, you've found yourself wondering if your less-than-fabulous physique is going to make the grade in an area known as the California Riviera.
With Orange County boasting 42 miles of surf and sand and sitting right next door to Hollywood, you have every right to be feeling a little self-conscious. Surely everyone there has a camera-ready body that would need no airbrushing.
Southern California hasn't received its reputation for beach-bound bombshells for nothing. Almost every travel guide invariably refers to Orange Coast inhabitants as some of the most glamorous if plastic people in the country. But just how image-obsessed are they really? Before you start developing a complex or adding crash diet, personal trainer or tummy tuck to your moving list, there are a few things you should know about the eating and exercising habits of your new Orange County neighbors.
Tofu in Every Pot and a Treadmill in Every Garage?
The rumors about Southern California are endless. If it's true that the so-called SoCal citizens are easier on the eyes than the rest of our American brethren, there's just-as-popular a notion why.
Health and fitness are on the mind of every American these days. If it's not your own nagging conscience to get out and exercise, there's a concerned husband, wife or doctor urging you to change those unhealthy habits.
The people of Orange County are no different. But in some cases, says Linda Peralta, Membership Manager for the new upscale Equinox fitness center in Pasadena, Calif., their own healthful volition puts the rest of us cookie-sneaking slackers to shame. "Their commitment to fitness is definitely higher than average. It's a community where people do pay more attention to their exterior."
Jamie Pierce knows all about this mindfulness of the body, not only from his position as the Fitness Manager of Bally's Total Fitness in Huntington Beach, but also as a born-and-raised native of the town. "The whole culture of Orange County has something to do with their healthy ways. Being near the beach, people want to show off their bodies and they want to be in shape."
Debbie Rocker, personal trainer and fitness mentor to such celebrities as Alyssa Milano, David Duchovny and Rod Stewart, who also holds classes in her Sherman Oaks, Calif. studio, agrees, but believes looks aren't the only motivator. "Most people are driven by the outside stuff – what they look like and how much money they have. The Los Angeles population is particularly keyed in to the vanity aspect of fitness. Yet we are also the most progressive in knowledge and practice of fitness as a healthy lifestyle."
Many fitness trends take root on the West coast. If exercising ever seemed boring to you, the city of the stars will make sure to keep things interesting. After all, it's an actor's job to look good, so shelling out a physician's salary for a few personal training sessions is not unheard of. But how much of these health fads from ultra-fashionable L.A. are making their way into the more suburban communities of Orange County?
Not many, say Peralta and Pierce. Sure Southern Californians are all about their 24-hour fitness facilities, but workout classes like cardio striptease and power belly dancing are better left to the Hollywood set. "There's a certain sensibility of our members, which really feeds into the mindset of the people of Orange County: They're more conservative and they want the tried and true methods of exercising," she says, adding that a recent survey of their members revealed most people cringe even at the word 'trendy.'
After all, most of Pierce's clientele are middle-aged men and women who want to change their lifestyle. "They're more interested in how to change their life rather than hopping on a new fad," he says. "If there's something that comes out that works, we'll do it, but otherwise, I don't promote it in my gym."
This kind of immutability is equally as present in their palates. The state that brought you vegetarianism and juice bars is now touting animal-friendly vegan diets comprised strictly of raw, organic, unprocessed foods. It may sound like a good excuse not to have to cook, but as a way of life?
Not to worry. Orange County food connoisseurs have indeed cultivated a taste for fresh, healthful ingredients, but carnivorous cravings for a slab of steak won't render your waiter aghast either. Steakhouses rivaling New York's finest are aplenty, and some with pricelists to match. Flemings, in Newport Beach, serves a 22-ounce Porterhouse steak that should sate the appetite of the most ravenous meat eater.
We love food just as much as our Midwestern neighbors, but we also love to experiment with healthy alternatives. If you are a vegetarian or on a restricted, doctor-prescribed diet, you'll be in heaven here. We have more healthful cuisine than you can shake a carrot stick at, from Laguna Beach's elegant Zinc Cafe to the popular, hippie-inspired Rutabegorz in Fullerton.
And, of course, there's seafood. OC's coastal restaurants offer so many inspired fresh-seafood entrees, it can be difficult to find something truly unhealthful on the menu. With restaurants hauling in flavor-intense fresh catches daily, their chefs wouldn't be caught dead batter-dipping, deep-frying or sauce-drowning their fish.
Beaches, Beaches and More Beaches
Orange County may be graced with some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, but how much of an influence do the beaches have on its inhabitants? Living in a neighborhood that's only a short drive to the ocean is motivation enough to stay fit, and when you live in a climate that makes every day a perfect day for suiting up, body-consciousness can be an around-the-clock concern.
People in Southern California are blessed with year-round summer weather. During the winter months, most of America are bundling in bulky sweaters, and adding a little padding to their figures. Only in the spring as the layers start to come off do they turn their attention to their flagging physiques.
Even if they could hibernate, it's doubtful many in Orange County would. Peralta, a Southern California native, left home at 18 to see what was beyond the world of Orange County. She traveled to Seattle, the East Coast and to Europe, but later found herself craving the outdoorsy lifestyle she'd left behind. "People's activity rate is definitely higher out here," she says. "The climate is conducive to outdoor activity. And there are so many people who cycle and surf and do everything outside."
Everything, indeed. There aren't many recreations you can't indulge in when you live in Southern California. There's surfing and volleyball games on Huntington Beach, jogging or rollerblading along the boardwalks, some of the best hiking and mountain biking trails in the Cleveland National Forest and plenty of ski resorts just two hours away.
This isn't a place where people are punishing their bodies just so they can lay out on the beach. It's also a place to get out and be active.
The Price Tag of Perfection
Of course, vanity presides in all of us to a certain extent, and Southern California is no exception. Without a doubt, elective cosmetic surgery is big business in California. The state leads the country in the number of breast augmentation procedures done every year.
Orange County's own Huntington Beach was in the press for more than its tourist attractions in 1999 when a local high school girl told Newsweek that a few of her classmates were receiving implants as graduation gifts.
But television shows like MTV's "Real Life: I'm Getting Plastic Surgery," which followed a group of young boys and girls through their procedures, proves it's not just a California thing. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of breast augmentations grew 306 percent nationwide between 1992 and 1998.
The bottom line is, if it's out there, it's in here. Orange County is home to some of the best beauty shops, fitness centers and health spas in the world. Does this mean you have to run out and get the best personal trainer there is?
Definitely not, says Rocker. "No matter how good someone looks, if they don't feel good, what difference does it make? Work from the inside out." That means adjusting to your new surroundings and finding what works well for you. Healthy eating and exercising will come naturally as you sample the local food and enjoy the inviting climate. Before you know it, you'll be eating edamame instead of chips; viewing the wildlife instead of the TV. Those extra pounds will melt away and those stress lines will disappear. But more importantly, you'll feel good. And what's more beautiful than that?