Dr. Oz: Manage Stress with Sex and Exercise

More Sex Less Stress

To help manage stress Dr Oz prescribes more frequent sex and consistent exercise

Illustration by Edward McGowan Exercise and sex are two key stress fighters. No one is immune to , including me. For my television show, I participated in a stress experiment by wearing a portable device that monitored my heart rate, respiratory rate, and skin temperature for 24 hours. Even after two years of hosting my own show — and two decades of performing heart surgery — I learned I still experience "pre-game jitters." My adrenaline starts to pump, causing my to race before it returns to baseline.

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Periods of brief stress like this are normal, but on the body — there's the rush of adrenaline that never quite turns off, leading to an overproduction of another stress hormone, cortisol. I've seen firsthand how excess cortisol places a massive strain on the heart. Now scientists are learning how cortisol affects the brain, too. Researchers recently discovered that the hippocampus — an area of the brain that helps you respond to anxiety-filled situations — appears uniquely susceptible to the negative effects of cortisol. Excess cortisol, they suspect, may suppress neurogenesis, the brain's ability to create and support new brain cells. And that's not good for anyone, especially those over age 50. So how can you turn off the cortisol? Two key stress fighters are and . While exercise increases cortisol in the short term, over time it decreases anxiety and boosts neurogenesis — likely by improving blood circulation to the . Even more intriguing, the brain cells created during exercise may be more resilient against future episodes of stress. Next: Sex seems to have similar benefits. In a recent animal study, a single sexual experience caused a short-term surge of cortisol, just as exercise does. But multiple sexual experiences, daily over two weeks, reduced the release of cortisol, increased neurogenesis, and decreased anxiety-like behavior. So look for small but consistent ways to reduce stress. I wouldn't miss my morning session, for instance. Just seven minutes of exercise to start the day — leaving the night free for romance — is a small investment that yields a very healthy payback. is a cardiothoracic surgeon and host of The Dr. Oz Show.

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Masterfile/Radius/Corbis Exercise, such as dancing, can combat stress. 40% of Americans say they lie awake at night because of stress 52% of Americans are worried about their health 70% of Americans are stressed about work 76% of boomers are worried about money $300 BILLION: The annual cost to businesses due to employee stress Sources for stress statistics: and . Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures

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