Get Anxiety Out of Your Way

That tummy ache? Must be stomach cancer. That headache? Brain tumor. Forgetting things? Uh oh, Alzheimer's.

Everyone has overreacted to utterly common problems -- especially once they start Googling them. (Cyberchondria, anyone?) But some people are especially prone to health fears. In fact, up to 20% of us suffer from various degrees of health anxiety. One antidote: Exercise, because sweaty workouts shrink medical worries as well as waistlines. So if your left brain (the rational side) knows you're fine, yet your right brain can't let go of nagging fears, go for a walk, jog, or swim; or pump a little iron; or try some chi-gong -- anything that gets your muscles moving.

Even if it's not enough, it's a good start. Some who overreact need more focused treatment, such as cognitive-behavior therapy or medication. But physical activity can still make a real difference, even if you're trying to push back panic attacks.

Of course, not all physical worries should be brushed off. If you have persistent, unexplained health symptoms, or they're sudden or severe enough to twist your body with pain, or your heart's pounding so hard that it feels like it could jump out of your chest, see your doctor, not your trainer.

That said, physical exertion is a remarkably effective way to calm down when there's nothing to fear but fear itself. Besides, your mind tends to rest easier when you're doing something that's good for your body. Ideally, it's something that demands your total focus, so you can't think of anything else while you're doing it. That could be yoga or one-on-one basketball or taking dance lessons -- hip-hop, swing, the samba, whatever. Go for it.