Dr. Friedman and Kim chew on the devastating effects of stress and how to combat them, as well as the pros and cons of aspirin use.Dr. Friedman and Kim chew on the devastating effects of stress and how to combat them, as well as the pros and cons of aspirin use. Stop the Stress According to the American Psychological Association, stress can induce the following emotional, cognitive and physical consequences: Forty-three percent of all adults suffer adverse health effects from stress. 75 to 90 percent of all physician office visits are for stress-related ailments and complaints. Stress is linked to the six leading causes of death–heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, and suicide. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has declared stress a hazard of the workplace. What are some ways you can reduce the stress in your life? Practice stress-reducing tactics such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture. If you can't change it, don't stress about it. Listen to music that you like (not necessarily calming varieties; just what you like). Take a hot Epsom salt bath. Visit your chiropractor regularly. Avoid inflammatory triggers such as sugar. Instead, choose stress-reducing foods like cashews, walnuts, oatmeal (steel cut), blueberries, dark chocolate, avocado, and green tea. Enlist the help of a supplement like SAMe (about 400 mg a day). Pros & Cons of Aspirin Approximately 44 million healthy Americans take aspirin as a preventative measure to stave off heart disease. And, it's the leading pain reliever. But, aspirin thins the blood, which can lead to other health concerns such as stroke, excessive bleeding and bruising, stomach irritation, and even vision problems. The best approach is to follow the advice of your doctor and to recognize that aspirin is medicine, not a vitamin. A more natural alternative (that's also easier on your stomach) is white willow bark. Dr. Friedman and Kim also answer a listener's question: what's the best alternative to cow's milk? Don't miss these intriguing topics!