Recent Articles

Here’s How to Handle an Anxiety Attack

Panic attacks can come in many forms. From sudden outbursts to controlled despair, there are a variety of ways in which an anxiety attack manifests itself. Unfortunately, around 6 million American adults live with a panic disorder. These attacks can be triggered by a certain situation, feeling, or nothing at all. If you are unsure of what triggers it, there may be no definitive way to prevent the attacks, but there are some ways to handle one effectively.

Change your thinking. It’s easier said than done, but simply changing your thinking can turn the panic attack around. When you’re in the middle of an anxiety attack, it’s easy to let your thoughts consume you, and the body can respond in the same way it would if it was in danger. Tell yourself that you’re okay – even if you don’t feel like it. Remind yourself that this has happened before and that it does end. Thinking calmly and walking yourself through it will prevent getting wound up.

Try a relaxation exercise. When your body has an intense response, you want to calm it down. Practice the technique of squeezing your hands together tightly and then letting go, noticing the change between tightness and ease. Doing so will shift your mind’s focus and will help you to start to relax the rest of your muscles.

Control your breathing. Anxiety attacks can cause rapid breaths and dizziness. A guided meditation or mindfulness exercise can help regulate your response, and it gives the mind something to focus on rather than the panic itself.

Keep track of what makes you anxious. Over the course of a day, chart your anxiety. If you can find a pattern with how you’re feeling, you may be able to pinpoint what it is that is causing your panic attacks so that you can stop the attacks in their tracks or at least reduce their severity.

For all of your health concerns and any of your medical needs, visit Sand Canyon Urgent Care. We welcome walk-in patients. Call us at (949) 536-7892 or visit us here to get started!

Why Exercise is Important Overall Health and Wellness

We all know that exercise is important. However, we may not know how vital it is and how much it does for our health. By exercising regularly, you’ll support several areas of your overall wellness for which your future self will thank you. Need more convincing to get moving? Check out these ways exercise can lead to a healthier and happier you.

Weight Control

One of the most common effects of exercise is that it helps you control and manage your weight. Exercise burns calories, which results in shedding pounds. Although rigorous training will burn more calories in less time, simple exercises such as a brisk walk can have a positive impact on weight loss.

Physical Fitness

Exercise helps you to stay healthy. Regular exercise increases your strength which can help you prevent falls and injuries. It will also help you to manage all of your everyday activities such as bringing in the groceries to cleaning the house to walking the dog.

Disease Prevention

Regular exercise will help prevent coronary heart disease, which is the leading cause of death in the United States. It can also prevent diabetes, stroke, and lower high blood pressure. Working out increases your ‘good’ cholesterol and decreases your risk of serious medical conditions.

Energy

One of the best reasons to exercise regularly is that it gives you energy. A workout can help oxygen flow more freely throughout the body and give you a much-needed burst of energy. It also improves your overall stamina, which can help you stay energized for longer.

Mental Health

Exercise has been proven to be an incredible mood booster. Moving your body releases endorphins, also known as ‘happy hormones,’ lifting your mood instantly. It can also allow you to sleep better, which is essential in maintaining an overall good mood.

Now that you know just how much exercise can benefit you, it’s time to grab your sneakers! When you need urgent medical attention, choose an urgent care with reliable walk-in treatment. At Sand Canyon Urgent Care, we can help you get back on your feet quickly. Visit us in Irvine and Stanton.

Health Benefits of Doing Yoga Every Day

Weight loss, strength, glowing skin, peaceful mind, improved posture, and happiness – whatever you’re looking for, yoga has it on offer. Very often, yoga is only partially understood as being limited to asanas (yoga poses). As such, its benefits are often only perceived to be at the body level. In reality, yoga has incredible benefits that improve the body and the mind.

From daily yoga practices, you can experience the following benefits!

• Improves Flexibility

Better flexibility is one of the first and most obvious benefits of yoga. Starting out, you may not be able to touch your toes, but over time and with practice, you’ll notice a gradual loosening. You will also notice that aches and pains start to disappear. Tight joints can wreak havoc on a body, but stretching muscles out and becoming more flexible helps to alleviate pain.

• Builds Muscle Strength

Think you need to hit the gym to build muscle? Think again. When you build strength in yoga, you balance it with flexibility. Strong muscles can help protect from arthritis and back pain, too!

• Betters Your Bone Health

Weight-bearing exercises strengthen bones and help to ward off osteoporosis. Many yoga poses require that you lift your own weight. In fact, Downward Dog and Upward Facing Dog strengthens the arm bones which are particularly vulnerable to osteoporotic fractures.

• Enhances Focus

Yoga practices help to focus on the present. When you adopt this way of thinking, you are less distracted by thoughts and worries, and become more in tune with your body and surroundings. People who practice yoga and meditation have improved coordination, reaction time, memory, and even IQ scores. 

• Inner Peace

Yoga is one of the best practices to calm the mind. Whether it’s through doing poses that involve moving with the breath or a guided meditation at the end of a session, yoga can take you to a serene place in your mind and release worries and tensions.

Taking care of your health and well-being is essential. For minor to moderate injuries and medical issues, visit Sand Canyon Urgent Care. Call us today for more information!