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RealAge Tip

Quick Fix for the Stressed Out

Rating: 4 out of 5
Stressed out because you’ve got too much to do and too little time to do it? Dr. Amy Wechsler has a quick tip to help you make it through without getting fried.

Hum. Yep, literally. Humming has been scientifically proved to boost nitric oxide (NO), a nifty little body gas that, in small doses, has a stress-reducing effect.

Whistle -- Uh, Hum -- While You Work
All of us produce NO in our respiratory tract, according to Wechsler. But it’s produced most notably in the sinuses. Humming affects the airflow between the sinuses and the nasal cavity in a way that creates more NO, a gas that promotes wound healing, new collagen formation, and better blood flow in the skin. Seems those seven dwarves were nearly onto something -- if they’d just tweaked their music-making advice a little. Get more feel-good, look-good tips from Dr. Wechsler’s new book, The Mind-Beauty Connection.

Feeling Fine
Of course, for the severely stressed out, no amount of humming is likely to make a dent. So try our bag of tricks and tools for turning big stress into small stuff: Check out these foods that can help calm you down fast.
RealAge Benefit: Having a backup stress-reduction technique on hand when you can’t otherwise destress can make your RealAge 6 years younger.

References Published on 11/25/2008.

EDITOR'S PICK
Stress!!


The war on stress! Every day we do battle, so we could use a little help from you. Is there a self-help book, a squeezy toy, a stand-in punching bag, or (we hope!) something completely different that keeps you mellow? Weigh in. What product helps you beat stress?

Got a favorite product or invention of your own? Tell us: Products@RealAge.com

 
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Tips from the RealAge Community MemberTipsIcon
What do you do to unwind?
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healthyme9
6 of 6 people found this helpful.
6/7/2009 11:46:23 PM

I just started practicing the "breathing method" myself and I find it very helpful, it even helps me to fall asleep.....
HealthAdvo...
4 of 4 people found this helpful.
6/7/2009 9:57:30 PM

I have one of those 'sound machines' that has rain, waterfall, night sounds, ocean and heartbeat. Depending on how stressed or what has str [Show More]
vicjarm
8 of 8 people found this helpful.
12/30/2008 5:00:47 PM

Breathing in, I relax, breathing out....I smile
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