Stress management is only one, but often the most important element in lifestyle counseling, and a common concern of persons living in a vibrant urban center such as Toronto.
In 2007, the American Psychological Association reported that in a given month, 77% of Americans experienced physical symptoms of stress, and 73% experienced psychological symptoms of stress. The health benefits of stress management are many: Poor stress management can contribute to development of heart disease, diabetes mellitus, infection, and to the extent it results on suppressed activity of the immune system, cancer. On the positive side, research also shows that stress management techniques, including simple breathing exercises are effective in counteracting the negative effects of stress.
Stress management techniques prescribed vary from patient to patient, depending on individual need, and may include the teaching of breathing exercises, exercise prescription, botanical (herbal) medicine or nutritional supplement prescription or simply identifying hidden sources of stress.
Du La, ND and Jonah Lusis, ND have both completed courses in Clinical Training in Mind/Body Medicine through the Mind/Body Medical Institute (an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School), primarily in the use of breathing exercises for stress management. Instruction in stress management provided at Toronto-Centre Naturopathic Medicine is covered by most extended healthcare plans.