Call Us Today! 702.272.0694

Archive for stress relief – Page 3

Challenging your Brain

By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
Friday, June 22nd, 2018

There is no right age to start thinking of how to keep your brain healthy. People who challenge their brains are likely to live a longer and more fulfilling life! There are different types of exercises that can boost our brain energy, but mental health exercises are often overlooked. Take some time each day to give your mind a mental workout!

Things that benefit our brain are right in front of us, sometimes we don’t see it right away. Add these simple tips into your everyday life more frequently!

Learn new things

Nothing wrong with a little new information every now and then. Whether you learn a new language, an instrument or studying a different career industry, learning should be a consistent part of your life! Learning new things challenges your brain’s skills in memory retainment, reading, problem-solving and so much more. Be curious about the world around, add to your vocabulary, utilize the internet when you come across something you’ve never seen.

You may consider learning a new hobby! If you want to start with something simple, a new hobby is a great way to start. Starting a new hobby allows you to get your creativity flowing and makes you think! Sometimes the things we are good at have yet to be discovered!

Be Productive in the Mornings

Routines are healthy for the brain. Waking up early and jump-starting your day with a to-do list not only boosts productivity but it prevents your brain from feeling sluggish all day. Changing up your routine is the challenge. Yes, it is important to have a routine weekly, but it’s even healthier to change it up every now and then by adding new tasks or doing things differently. A fixed routine can eventually make your brain feel too accustomed to something.

Rotate between being Old-Fashioned & Current

Technology is something many people rely on and not rely on enough. There are those few who are heavily dependent on using their smartphones and laptops and then there are those who rather not dive into learning how to use technology to their advantage.

If you aren’t familiar with the technology, it might be a great thing to teach yourself. It’s important to stay current and there’ s nothing wrong with learning something new especially if you can use it to your advantage.

If you rely on technology a little too much, try doing things the hard way sometimes:

  • Use your brain for basic math you need to add or even memorizing phone numbers of people important to you!
  • Use your sense of direction and mental skills to figure out where to go without using a GPS from your phone.

    • Stay Well-Read

    Regardless of your interests, it’s important to read. Read anything! Books, magazines, articles, food labels. Reading stimulates your brain and keeps your mind pumping. It’s one of the simplest ways to challenge your brain.

    Keep up with current events, even if it’s a little a day. Whether you are staying updated with the environment, politics, world news or even local news, stimulate your brain by learning about things that are happening right now. You may even consider learning about the technological changes that are happening in society today! You will be surprised by what you learn each day, there is always something new.

    Comments (0)
    Categories : Alzheimer's disease, Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Diet, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Migraines, Silver State Neurology, Sleep Disorders, stress, stress relief
    Tags : , , , , ,

    Declutter your Brain

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Thursday, May 24th, 2018

    Our lives are constantly dictated by tight schedules and lengthy to-do lists. The stress of the workplace or the home can quickly compound, making even simple tasks seem like a hassle. The best way to stay calm and collected even in those frustrating situations is to keep an organized mind. The goal isn’t to compartmentalize every aspect of your life into an even stricter schedule and to-do list. The goal is to declutter your brain of unnecessary thoughts so that you can focus on one thing at a time (and do it successfully, too).

    But how can we go about getting our mind in the right state? With all these stressors surrounding us, it’s a lot tougher than said. Here are a few tips to get you started:

    Keep a journal

    Yes, I’m sure we have all heard “keep a journal” a thousand times. But, what makes it so useful? Journals are essential for word blurts. When we feel overwhelmed by the thoughts, sometimes the best option is to get it all out at once. Open a document on your computer, and start typing away. Don’t stop until you have nothing left to say. Once you’re done, you’ll be able to focus on specifics without worrying about all those other “things” bouncing around.

    Learn a few strategies to make decisions

    One of the most stressful aspects of our lives is making decisions. Even choosing what to eat for breakfast can be stressful when you only have 5 minutes to make yourself something that stays true to your diet. Deciding if you want to go out with your friends on a Thursday night, knowing you have work early the next day is another. Or maybe you’re torn between staying with your current job and moving to a new city to pursue something better but making less.

    All these decisions that we must make every day of our lives pile up quickly and cause the mind to get cluttered. A useful strategy is Heath’s WRAP method: widen your choices, reality-test your assumptions, attain distance before deciding, and prepare to be wrong.

    If you’re short on time, use the tried-and-true method of a pro/con list. Listing your options and their potential benefits and downsides might give you an obvious answer that you weren’t able to see with a cluttered mind.

    Know when it is time to see your local Las Vegas Neurologist to help guide you to better brain health management. Sometimes our bodies are trying to tell us something and we don’t listen. If your body and brain is overwhelmed, listen to it. Stress can impact the brain’s health.

    Rearrange your priorities

    What’s more important to you: family or your career? What about loyalty or honesty? What are your core values? And what do you want to be kept at the forefront of your mind when making decisions? Oftentimes, in the heat of complicated situations, we sacrifice what’s important to us to complete a task. If we constantly remind ourselves of what is important to us, we can make better decisions and make them faster. Keeping a set of principles ahead of us at all times also helps to declutter the things that aren’t as important.

    Get out of the past

    The biggest clutter in our mind is what we’ve done in the past. We miss one deadline, and it becomes the only thing we can think about for the next week. The best way we can help ourselves is to acknowledge when our mind returns to a negative memory of the past and calmly bring it back to focus. Slowly training our minds to see the positives and stay in the present keeps us free from the clutter of the past.

    Clean your physical space

    A big contributor to the mess in your mind is the mess that is all around you in your physical space. The unnecessary visual stimuli kick your mind into hyperdrive, making you think you constantly have to accomplish tasks. Taking a few minutes to keep your space clean each day will help you relax.

    Conclusion

    The stressors that we experience each day of our lives sometimes make it difficult to keep a clear mind. But taking the time to do some clean-up following the tips outlined above can help you live a less stressful life. If you are experiencing brain health issues, visit your local Las Vegas Neurologist and seek help.

    Comments (0)
    Categories : Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Migraines, Silver State Neurology, stress, stress relief
    Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

    Meditation Improves Brain Health

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Monday, April 30th, 2018

    Meditation is a technique that improves brain health and your overall quality of life. The practice of meditation is not as popular as it should be! Meditation induces relaxation in the body and redirects your mind to focus and create better thoughts. Some use this technique to reduce stress and improve concentration. Many people who mediate benefit greatly from it from a mental and cardiovascular stand point.

    Benefits of Meditation

  • Reduces Stress
  • Improves Concentration
  • Creates balance
  • Encourages healthy living
  • Increase overall happiness
  • Induces relaxation throughout body

    • Meditation and the Brain

    As mentioned above, meditation can be very beneficial towards the health of your brain. Your brain needs behaviors that help it stay balanced. Just like your body, it needs exercise, nutrition and care to keep it healthy. If you have never tried meditation, it is generally a harmless activity. Whether you spend 15 minutes to 1 hour, it makes a huge difference in your quality of life.

    Meditation trains your mind similarly in the way that fitness workouts train your body to be stronger. At first, it can seem a little strange and difficult since you are sitting down and thinking. But in time, you will be able to train your mind, create balance and improve your concentration, starting with focusing on your breathing! Many people forget that brain health depends on your daily habits.

    While mediation isn’t the only way to give your brain a routine that will keep it healthy, it is a way that is often overlooked. The brain can undergo a lot of different emotions of stress, feelings of anxiety or depression, which can be decreased with a way of a more balanced atmosphere. Sometimes, we forget to breathe in the midst of all the stress and emotions. A simple meditation session can calm your body and mind.

    Meditation for Beginners

    Meditation is a physical activity in which you concentrate by sitting or lying down comfortably, closing your eyes and simply breathing. Below are simple tips for meditating if it’s your first time.

  • Start with a position you will be comfortable in, either sitting or laying down. You may want to consider a comfortable cushion!
  • Close your eyes and focus.
  • Deep breaths, naturally and do not control it.
  • Focus on nothing else except your breathing and your body movements along with it.
  • Should your mind wander, redirect and focus on your breathing again, continue for as long as you can.

    • There are many types of meditation but the most important thing to remember when giving it a try is to focus, embrace the silence, be comfortable in posture and to focus as much as you can. With these simple steps, you will feel a sense of relief and your brain will become much more relaxed. This technique is a great preventative care measure to promote and maintain a healthy brain and lifestyle.

    Comments (0)
    Categories : Blog, Brain Health, brain stress, Health Tips, Migraines, Sleep Disorders, stress, stress relief, Uncategorized
    Tags : , , , ,

    Prevention is Key

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Friday, April 20th, 2018

    Maintaining and improving your health is important in preventing your body and especially brain to encounter issues as you age. With preventive tips and care, maintaining a healthy brain is possible. The first step in giving your health the attention it needs is never avoiding symptoms. While not all symptoms should be taken too seriously, it is important to be aware of all types of symptoms. Making a consistent trip to the doctor for a check up is one way of confirming your health is where it needs to be.

    Prevention refers to the maintenance and care you are putting towards your wellness and overall health. Many people don’t pay attention to their health nor do they take preventive measures to ensure the healthiest life possible. Preventive care does not always refer to just physical activity. Physical activity is only one of the many ways to regularly maintain health. Working to be proactive towards your body and brain will help you as you age.

    Preventive Care Tips:

    Take precaution when the flu is in season & take care of yourself when you catch it. It is inevitable that we will get sick a few times a year. Most of the time, we get sick due to lack of vitamin c or other nutrients needed to keep our body strong against infectious bacteria. An easy way to prevent yourself from catching a cold is simply by making sure you are giving your body the nutrients it needs including: vegetables, fruits, and other healthy food options. When we are sick, sometimes we don’t give our bodies the opportunity to recover. Take a day off from work, cancel your weekend plans, whatever it takes to ensure your body is going to receive the rest it needs to recover and heal. Overworking your body while it is weak during a cold make your sickness worse and could lead to your body weakening as the time passes instead of strengthening.

    Change your Lifestyle Habits. When you’re young, you have more energy and think your body can withstand many things. While that is mostly true, it doesn’t happen without the help you. As you grow older, preventive measures matter more. Eating anything and sleeping however little hours and not caring about your body does not work anymore. Start making time to take care of yourself. Exercise is a naturally preventive care that helps both your physical body and your brain. Make it a priority to sleep at a reasonable time and a minimum of 7 to 8 hours. Not getting enough sleep can cause a lot of mental stress and can often lead to sleep disorders. Choose a few meals low in sugar, fats and cholesterol. This can help with preventing Alzheimer’s.

    Build social networks. Having strong ties with friends and family will help in lower blood pressure and keep you happier in your life. Most people de-stress by being around people. When you keep things bottled in, it can affect your mental health and cause you to trigger migraines and even sleep disorders.

    What risks can Preventive Care reduce?

    Preventive care can reduce chances of stroke, heart disease, memory loss and other neurological problems. Many people fear visiting a doctor, but visiting your Las Vegas Neurologist to ensure you are healthy will give you peace of mind and if there is something wrong, you will find out and take measures to treating it. Here at Silver State Neurology, we care about all your concerns, questions and overall well-being. Contact us today to address any of your concerns!

    Comments (0)
    Categories : Blog, Brain Food, Brain Health, brain stress, Flu Season, Headaches, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Silver State Neurology, Sleep Disorders, stress, stress relief

    Migraines: When is it time to see a doctor?

    By silverstate neurology · Comments (0)
    Friday, April 13th, 2018

    Migraines are large throbbing pains in the head and neck that is often very severe. Migraines can affect a specific side of the head and can be so bothersome that it causes nausea or vision impairments. The feeling is an intense pain pulsating that can cause vomiting and extreme sensitivity to light and sound. It is a neurological disorder that can involve the chemical activity in your brain, nerves or blood.

    It’s hard to tell how long migraines will last.  Some migraines can last a few hours and much more severe ones can last for days. The pain of a migraine can be disabling and prevent you from your daily activities and functions. Aura is a warning symptom that some people experience before a migraine. These can occur during the migraine as well.

    Migraines can be treated to prevent migraines and make them less painful. Talk to your Las Vegas Neurologist about your options to treat your migraines if you are having trouble finding relief.

    Symptoms of Migraines

    Migraines can often run in the family and it affects people of all ages. Migraines begin in childhood or in early adulthood for some people. If you have a family history of migraines, you are in risk of having it. Symptoms for migraines can be caught before you experience it. This is known as the prodrome stage. Symptoms to look out for during prodrome:

    • Food cravings
    • Mood changes such as depression
    • Fatigue and frequent yawning
    • Hyperactivity
    • Irritability
    • Neck stiffness
    • Constipation

    Aura

    Aura is a warning symptom that you can get after the prodrome stage and right before a migraine. Aura can cause problems in your vision, movement and even your speech. There are a lot of people who experience migraines with aura but if you experience these examples, it is likely you have migraine aura:

    • Difficulty speaking
    • Tingling sensations in body
    • Visualizing light flashes and/or bright spots
    • Vision loss
    • Body weakness or numbness

    Migraines vs. Headaches

    Headaches are pains in your head that involve pressure and aching. The pain of headache is mild, and you feel it on more sides of your head than one specific spot. Common areas that people feel headaches are forehead, temples and the back of the neck. They typically don’t last as long as migraines. Migraines last longer and are much more severe. There are instances where migraines can be so severe that you can find yourself going to the emergency room. They have far more effects than a headache including: vomiting, nausea, vision loss and disturbing long-lasting pain.

    When to see your Neurologist

    Sometimes it can be difficult to decide when it’s time to see a doctor. Migraines are painful and severe but they are not dangerous which can add to the difficulty in deciding when to see a doctor. It’s important to pay attention to the symptoms you are experiencing. Sometimes migraine symptoms can also be symptoms of other conditions that would lead to much more serious issues.

    Seek consultation from a doctor if:

    • Your migraines are severe or begin suddenly
    • You experience migraines much more frequently and they worsen
    • If your speech, health and vision are impaired
    • Coughing or sneezing causes or triggers a migraine

    Contact your Las Vegas Neurologist if you are experiencing migraines that are severe and prevent you from functioning normally throughout your day!

    Comments (0)
    Categories : Blog, Brain Health, Health Tips, las vegas neurologist, Las Vegas neurology clinic, Migraines, stress, stress relief
    Tags : , , , , , , , , , , , ,
    « Previous Page
    Next Page »