Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital - Health and Wellness Services for Stress

What is it?

Health and Wellness Services offers programs that help patients manage and decrease their stress, especially following a heart attack or other major disease event. Patients exercise and are monitored by staff, and many participate in free educational forums, classes and support groups focused on stress reduction. Classes address how to identify triggers, anticipate and avoid them if possible, and how to develop and make good use of coping mechanisms.

Who is it for?

Any adult suffering from stress.

Why do they do it?

Research has shown that as much as 90 percent of all U.S. doctor visits are stress related. Especially after a major disease event, stress can be life threatening; for example, patients who experience depression following a heart attack are up to four times more likely than patients without depression to die within the next six months.

Impact

Approximately 200 people participate in stress-related wellness forums, classes and support groups every year.

Contact: Cathy Reece
Manager, Health & Wellness Services
Telephone: 434-654-4510
Email: cxlamber@sentara.com