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Because one can cause the other, it can be tricky to tell the two apart. By Dr. Rob for MSN Health & Fitness Q: I think I have asthma that is triggered by cold air, exercise, and my allergy to hay (I live on a farm). I am also a very emotional person and experience chest tightness and have difficulty taking deep breaths during times of high stress. Are these feelings signs of panic attacks or symptoms of my asthma? A: If your symptoms during times of high stress are similar to what you experience when you are around hay, exercising, or out in cold air, they may be related to your asthma. However, panic attacks may also trigger chest tightness and breathing difficulty, so the two may be interrelated. Either way, the key is in knowing your asthma triggers (stress, allergy, etc.) and taking actions to decrease or prevent the cascade of symptoms from occurring. Is it asthma? Asthma is a respiratory problem that constricts the muscles surrounding the airways and causes the tissues in ...

By Steve Calechman, Best Life Best Life The biggest health threat for men isn't heart disease or cancer. It's the out-of-control stress reactions that cause or worsen those conditions in the first place. We talked to America's coolest characters to learn how they cope. Steal their secrets and you'll thrive in life's pressure points—like they do. The Stressor: All eyes are on you at a critical moment in the game (or the presentation, or the ceremony). Beat that stress: When you establish a routine, the difficult becomes routine. Chauncey Billups, a Detroit Pistons point guard, describes his formula for nailing two free throws to tie a game in the fourth quarter: "I know it's a big shot, but I don't even think about the moment. If I put more pressure on it, then it becomes a mental thing. I treat it the same as a free throw in the first quarter by doing the same routine every single time. I focus on the rim. I take four dribbles, spin the ball, and get up...

Ten ways to beat stress in 10 minutes or less. By Alison Kotch, Best Life Did you know that the holiday season is the time of the year when you're most likely to die from a heart attack? According to research at the University of California, the deadliest day is Christmas, when you're 5 percent more likely to have a cardiac event. Of course, all the key stressors (finance, family, travel) seem destined to be worse this year (they always do). Since a restful night's sleep or an hour at the gym isn't always possible, here are 10 quick ways to stress less. One second: Swear Researchers at England's University of East Anglia Norwich looked into leadership styles and found that using swear words can reduce stress and boost camaraderie among coworkers. Good luck, #!$*&^*@! Five seconds: Pop fish oil According to research from the University of Pittsburgh, people with the highest blood levels of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids are happier, less impulsive, and more agre...

By Jay Dixit, PsychologyToday.com Psychology Today A friend was walking in the desert when he found the telephone to God. The setting was Burning Man, an electronic arts and music festival for which 50,000 people descend on Black Rock City, Nevada, for eight days of "radical self-expression"—dancing, socializing, meditating, and debauchery. A phone booth in the middle of the desert with a sign that said "Talk to God" was a surreal sight even at Burning Man. The idea was that you picked up the phone, and God—or someone claiming to be God—would be at the other end to ease your pain. So when God came on the line asking how he could help, my friend was ready. "How can I live more in the moment?" he asked. Too often, he felt, the beautiful moments of his life were drowned out by a cacophony of self-consciousness and anxiety. What could he do to hush the buzzing of his mind? "Breathe," replied a soothing male voice. My friend flinched at the tired new-...

By Rebecca Ruiz for Forbes.com Forbes Later this month, many will begin preparing holiday feasts, attending parties and shopping obsessively for the perfect presents, all while counting blessings and enjoying the company of family and friends. Millions will also spend it focused on reducing stress instead of spreading cheer. From long lines to even longer lists, there are numerous opportunities to become mired in holiday strain, but experts say it can be overcome by tailoring festivities to your liking, as opposed to mimicking the grandiose displays reflected in commercials or movies. "I encourage people to not just jump on the bandwagon," says Dr. Beverly Thorn, professor of psychology at the University of Alabama. "We need small doses of expectations or else we're setting ourselves up for failure." Adopting this philosophy is an empowering start, but to be fully prepared for the holiday season you should be aware of the warning signs of stress, common triggers...