Lifestyle medicine and stress management

Abstract

“Stress” is ubiquitous in modern society, and it has been fur- ther exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the report titled Stress in America 2020: A National Mental Health Crisis, issued by the American Psychological Association, it was concluded that the United States is in the midst of a stress-related mental health epidemic that could result in serious long-term health consequences. While there are many catalysts of stress, frequently reported sources in the United States include finances, work, relationships, ill-health, and, more recently, existential concerns about the future of the nation and climate change. Stress is unequivocally linked to poor health outcomes, as detailed in this article, due to both its physiologic and behavioral effects. Accordingly, the provision of stress management techniques constitutes an integral component of leading lifestyle medicine interventions. The American College of Lifestyle Medicine considers stress management to be one of the 6 pillars of lifestyle medicine, alongside healthful eating, physical activity, sleep, social connection, and the avoidance of risky substances.4 Notably, many of the pillars of lifestyle medicine are also evidence-based approaches for managing stress, demonstrating the interconnectedness of these pillars of health and well-being. This article examines the reciprocal relationship between stress and health and builds a case for the importance of stress management knowledge for family physicians in the prevention, management, and treatment of chronic diseases. It also explores lifestyle medicine practices for managing stress, with special attention given to mindfulness-based activities, and provides practical strategies for managing stress.