Important tips as the stress over COVID-19 continues to grow

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to dominate our lives, we all are attempting to adjust to a life defined by words like quarantine and social distancing. Understandably, all of this can cause stress and anxiety, which left unchecked, can lead to additional problems.

So Virtua Health experts have pulled together resources to help you and those you care about manage stress and stress-induced behaviors.

Expert advice on coping

Psychiatrist Dr. Jay (John) Case, the program director for Virtua Behavioral Health, acknowledges we are all battling information overload. To combat that, he offers three general tips:

1. Identify what your concerns are and determine which are realistic and which are exaggerated.
2. Identify the things that are in your control, using this list for planning or action.
3. Identify what is out of your control, and develop healthy strategies to manage your related anxiety.

Get the details here.

Avoiding stress eating

Stress eating is common, and a clinical psychologist and licensed clinical alcohol and drug counselor with Virtua stressed the need to create structure and maintain as much normalcy as possible during the pandemic. She said it is also important to maintain as much contact with people because the quarantine has eliminated so many of our daily social interactions. She also suggests using the time to make plans for a healthier lifestyle after the quarantine is listed. You can get all the details here.

One of Virtua's dietitians makes two suggestions. First, don't be hard on yourself. Stress eating is a totally normal response. Second use the STAR approach to help. STAR stands for - Stop what you're doing, Take a deep breath, Ask yourself what you're really looking for in this moment, and Redirect yourself with a different activity. You can get all the details here.

Even if you don't stress eat, you may find yourself struggling to create healthy meals. That's why another Virtua dietitian created 12 easy tips for using pantry staples to prepare tasty meals that are also healthy. You can get all the details here.

Get your workout in without the gym

With gyms closed, it would be easy to fall into bad habits, but Virtua fitness specialist Paige Kondrak created a 15-step workout that doesn't require any extra equipment. Exercise is a great way to eliminate stress and this workout can be done at home. You can get all the details here.

Tips for new work-from-home workers

While non-essential businesses have been closed, many workers suddenly find themselves working from home. For those used to this arrangement, a home office may have all the amenities of a traditional office. If this is new, you may find that your home furniture creates some challenges for your body. Two of the biggest challenges involve the back and your wrists. Here are some resources to combat those issues:

5 stretches to relieve back pain while working from home

Easy wrist stretches while working from home

Why heart patients need to follow guidelines

A Virtua cardiologist offered these four reasons people with heart conditions should follow COVID-19 safety guidelines

• People who are older or have a heart condition may have a weakened immune system, so the body's response to the virus may not be as strong.
• Second, COVID-19, like the flu, is a respiratory illness targeting the lungs. Respiratory illnesses also affect the heart, which has to work harder to deliver oxygen-rich blood throughout the body.
• Third, COVID-19 may pose a particular danger to the heart because of how the virus attacks the body's cells.
• Finally, COVID-19 poses a risk for people with atherosclerosis, the build-up of fats, cholesterol, and other substances (known as plaque) inside the arteries.

You can get all the details here.

Virtua's head of infectious disease addresses COVID-19

As part of the Here For Good podcast, Dr. Martin Topiel, Virtua's head of infections disease, talked about his relationship with Dr. Anthony Fauci — the face of the White House’s coronavirus response, the challenge facing clinicians addressing the virus, and the important steps you can take to help control the spread and save lives. You can listen to the podcast here.

Get the latest information

Virtua has created a COVID-19 update that contains the system's latest information, useful advice and resources, and a self-assessment tool. Get all the details here.

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