How Dumbbells Make You Immune to Stress

Crazy commute? No problem. Mile-long to-do list? Bring it on. Mini work crisis? Easy.

Just make dumbbell your middle name and you'll be practically immune to these kinds of things. Why? Because people with decent muscle mass have an easier time recovering from mental stress.

Pump Up the Jam
Whether you use dumbbells, resistance bands, or your own body weight to build muscle (think push-ups), you're one step ahead of the stress game. Having a lean body mass (more muscle, less fat) helps your body normalize blood pressure more quickly after a mentally stressful event, because a fit body does a better job of ridding itself of sodium. And that takes a big load off of your heart and arteries when you're under the gun. Test your sodium smarts with this quick quiz.

Ways to Muscle Up
Buff your bod and beat high blood pressure with these cool tools:

• Get fit while you wait in line. Do the No-Workout Workout.
• Skip the gym. Try this complete routine -- it uses your body as resistance.
• Watch a video. Shape up in the privacy of your own home with this 20-minute workout.

Are your blood pressure readings correct? Here's how to get the most accurate numbers.

Relationship of body composition to stress-induced pressure natriuresis in youth. Wilson, M. E. et al., American Journal of Hypertension 2004 Nov;17(11 Pt 1):1023-1028.