Summary
Sustained over time, stress can undermine health in serious and sometimes deadly ways. In this Forum event, expert participants examined what we know about the effects of stress on health, including heart disease risk, and about the role social status plays in exacerbating or mitigating these effects. In addition, panelists explored ways in which positive well-being, mindfulness, exercise and nutrition contribute to a more resilient, healthier lifestyle.
Also see this brief video with Dr. Lilian Cheung, a Forum participant, conducting a short mindful breathing exercise. Follow along as she demonstrates how regular conscious breathing can be a quick and easy way to de-stress.
Part of: Policy Controversies.
Presented in Collaboration with The Huffington Post
Background Articles
- Enhancing Medical Education to Address Obesity: “See One. Taste One. Cook One. Teach One.”
JAMA Internal Medicine - The Mindfulness Chronicles: On “the psychology of possibility”
Harvard Magazine - Positive Feelings May Help Protect Cardiovascular Health
HSPH Press Release - Happiness & Health: The Biology of Emotion
Harvard Public Health Magazine - Savor: Mindful Eating, Mindful Life
Harvard Public Health Magazine
Image Credit: © iStockphoto.com/Dmitry Rukhlenko
