Magazine Artivle Review: Find Freedom from Stress

 Find Freedom from Stress by Stacey Colino, Prevention Magazine, Prevention.com, December 2025, pp 64-75.

High stress reactivity is when you have been overstressed for too long.  It results in being too vigilent and too quick to react and reactions are too intense and prolonged.  Over time this can lead to a heightened fight or flight response.  Being on high alert can lead to relationship issues and snapping at others.  People with PTSD or early exposure to stress are at greater risk.  Unless you find a way to get to a normal baseline stress can become accumulative.  this can up your risk for many health issues: sleep disturbances, chronic pain issues, heart disease, diabetes and cancer and it can exacerbate asthma and arthritis.  It can lead to wear and tear on the body which can accelerate the aging process.  

Tools to bring stress reactivity down include a healthy diet, plenty of sleep and a social network of support.  Consistent aerobic exercise can bring stress levels down.  Slow breathing exercises can be of great benefit.  As can calming your mid through meditation.  Accepting that stress is inevitable can help you bounce back quicker.  Ruminating on a stressful event is not helpful.  Lastly the author suggests the Healthy Minds App developed by Richard J. Davidson can be helpful in building resilience and connectivity.

Magazine Article Review: The Most Important Health Metric You're Not Tracking

The Most Important Health Metric You're Not Tracking by Ginny Graves, Men's Health Magazine, Hearst Magazines International, Spring, 2026, pp 18-19.

The MVP of health metrics is blood pressure.  High blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart failure and coronary artery disease.  It can also lead to kidney and brain issues.  There is also a link with dementia.  A blood pressure cuff is the most accurate way to track blood pressure.  Watches are fun but not accurate.  People with a high risk, sleep apnea, obesity, diabetes, family history, kidney disease or poor diet should track their blood pressure.  Track initially at the same time every morning and every evening.  Good blood pressure is less than 120/80.  If high exercise, losing weight, increased potassium an lower sodium and abstain from alcohol can help lower blood pressure, 

Project Semi-colon: Suicide and Depression Awareness

Project semi colon as in ; and not what needs a colonoscopy.  It is a program for helping people pause when they are depressed, before attempting suicide.  "Whether you are trying to understand your own mental health, support someone you love, or help a child who is struggling, Project Semicolon helps you find a clear next step."  It is a site with links to many articles dealing with depression and suicide from the perspective of yourself or a friend or a child.  

The Amazing Power of Healing

I burnt myself a few years ago just before Christmas.  It is now totally healed.  Look at the amazing difference between these pictures.  The first is Saturday after wound therapy.  The wound clinic worker removed a lot of the dead skin, and everything is red and sore.  The next picture, the following evening shows some healing already.  However the third picture which was taken yesterday at my wound clinic appointment, shows great strides.  There are a few places where the new skin is still weak, but I am healing.  The light spots don't need the antibiotic stuff any more.  The pain is pretty much gone; however there is an itchy phase to healing.  For over a week I couldn't stand putting pressure on my back.  Now I welcome it as it helps to soothe the itching.  I use my pillow to add pressure to my back.  Last night I slept on my back for the first time in two weeks.
In like fashion, Jesus heals.  I can warrant much of the healing to Caleb's priesthood blessing, which comes from Jesus.  However in life, we all receive little knocks from time to time.  We make little mistakes, and they begin to add up.  I want you to know that Jesus heals.  Just as he healed physical pain through His miracles, He also heals spiritual pain.  More than once he said, "Thy sins are forgiven thee, go and sin no more."  He has gone below all things.  He has carried our sorrows.  He can heal.  He will will.  We just need to reach out to Him.