HaftaRun - Health Back
How Hostile Are You? Three aspects of hostility can harm your health: anger, aggression and cynicism. Ask yourself the following questions to guage whether negative emotions are putting your heart at risk. On a piece of paper record how many apply to you.

Anger

When you are stuck in a traffic jam, do you quickly start to feel irritated and annoyed?
When someone treats you unfairly, are you apt to think about it for hours?
When you remember something that made you mad, do you feel angry all over again?

Aggression

If a friend or coworker disagrees with you, are you likely to get into an arguement about it?
Do you often use profanity when you are arguing with a friend or relative?
If another driver butts in front ofyou in traffic, do you flash your lights and honk your horn?

Cynicism

In the express line at the store, do you check whether anyone has too many items?
When you're a passenger in a car, do you try to stay alert for obstacles ahead?
If there's an important job to be done, do you prefer to do it yourself?

If three or fewer apply to you, hostility probably isn't a big problem for you; between four and six, you may be putting your heart at risk; seven or more and your hostility is in the danger zone. Its time to start practicing those mind-body techniques or talking to your doctor to find out how you can help your self.

Four Ways to Manipulate Your Mind Set

Meditation: Transcendental meditation os an ancient Indian practice that involves learning a special sound, or mantra, to achieve a state of "restful alertness." Researchers have shown that TM can elicit a variety of beneficial changes including a slowing of heart and breathing rates.
Biofeedback: Biofeedback uses electronic equipment that monitors a patients physiological functions and translates them into sounds or video images. A trainer then teaches the patient to control these functions with conscious thought, often using relaxation techniques.
Yoga: Some experts say this 3,000 year old Indian practice is the earliest known mind-body system designed to heighten awareness and promote healing. There are many types of yoga, but most involve deep breathing and a sequence of poses that encourage flexibility, strength and balance.
Cognitive Restructuring: Rooted in the belief that stress arises from negative thinking pattern, cognitive restructuring involves substituting positive thoughts for negative ones.