St. George Health & Wellness Magazine May/June 2022

Page 24

Dr. Aaron Vazquez emphasized that a key to mental health is to dial down the noise and distractions in our lives and focus on what matters most.

What the Body Knows, the Brain Told It By Lisa G. Larson

About the Author

Lisa Larson is a freelance writer with a background in public relations and public speaking and a passion for sharing great stories. You might spot Lisa with her husband and three children, enjoying the downtown carousel or exploring one of the area’s hiking trails. She also enjoys reading and baking, and she is looking to rekindle her romance with running. You can find Lisa on Twitter @LisaGLarson or at www.facebook.com/larsonlisa.

24 www.sghealthandwellnessmagazine.com

When it comes to a person’s overall physical health, sometimes it is helpful to take a step back and recognize that, in addition to the physical manifestations of an ailment, there is likely a mental component as well. “The mind, essentially the brain, is the computer for the rest of the body,” said Dr. Aaron Vazquez, adult psychiatrist and medical director for Behavioral Health at St. George Regional Hospital. “It’s in charge of making sense of our external environment and making decisions that keep us alive.” Whether those decisions are related to a person’s success in relationships or their overall health, the impact of the mind on a person’s life is “very strong.” “If the computer is failing or glitching out, the areas it controls are going to do the same,” Dr. Vazquez said. According to Dr. Vazquez, one example of the power the mind has over the body is illustrated by the success seen in the Wim Hof Method. “It’s a method that includes extensive breath work and exposing the body to regular stressors—like cold water—in order to show what can be done with the mind in terms of controlling your physiology,” Dr. Vazquez said. “This method has been scientifically shown to improve immune responses and heart health.” Whether a person subscribes to this method or not, Dr. Vazquez said it illustrates the power of “mind over matter,” which can be beneficial in a wide range of physical health-related issues. “The key is to create awareness, to dial down the noise and distractions in our lives, and to focus on what matters most to us. For most people, one of those things is physical health,” Dr. Vazquez said. But awareness is only the first step. “Healthy thinking is necessary and a good start, but it doesn’t necessarily lead to healthy behavior,” Dr. Vazquez said. “From there, insight and a change in behavior are required.” One way to more effectively change behavior is to develop healthy rituals. “As a psychiatrist, in order to understand a person’s anxiety, for example, we have to understand their routines and habits,” said Dr. Vazquez. A lot of time is spent examining those rituals and looking for dysfunction. Usually the dysfunction lies in the inconsistencies.


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Improve Your Mental Acuity by Engaging in Word and Number Puzzles Daily

2min
pages 78-79

Drawing on Experience: Pro Cyclist T.J. Eisenhart Crafts New IRONMAN Mural

6min
pages 18-19

Keep Your Boots Dusty This Summer: Six Tips for Hiking in the Heat of Southern Utah

6min
pages 14-15

Keeping Pets Safe in the Garden

3min
pages 80-84

Death with Dignity: Understanding the Value of Hospice Care

3min
page 77

Youth Diaries: Lessons I Learned on My Way to the World Series

4min
page 76

Lymphedema: Questions and Answers

5min
pages 72-73

The Profound Relationship between Our Physical and Emotional Health

5min
pages 70-71

Summer Sport Preparation

3min
pages 68-69

Reduce Dust, Pollen, and Viral Load with Good “Nasal” Housekeeping

7min
pages 66-67

Dixie State University Student Discovers the Path to PA School

3min
pages 64-65

Giving Service: A Cure for What Ails You

5min
pages 62-63

Nurtured by Nature

4min
pages 60-61

Desert Pain Breaks Down Everything Patients Need to Know about Medical Cannabis

4min
pages 58-59

A Zest for Life

4min
pages 56-57

What is Kayenta Arts Foundation/ Center for the Arts at Kayenta?

3min
pages 54-55

Remember When You Retired from High School?

6min
pages 52-53

Change Your Body by Changing Your Mind

6min
pages 50-51

Pure and Simple

5min
pages 48-49

Caves of the Great Basin

4min
pages 46-47

Mental Health and Emotional Wellness at School

6min
pages 40-42

Are You Ready for Summer?

3min
page 43

A Cowboy’s Memory

4min
pages 38-39

Childhood Obesity

5min
pages 36-37

What Is Vo2max, and How Can It Improve Sports Performance?

4min
pages 34-35

Vista Healthcare Helps Knee Osteoarthritis Patients Keep Moving

4min
pages 32-33

Five Questions for Your Ketamine Provider

4min
pages 30-31

The Restorative Power of Advocacy in Community Health Care

5min
pages 28-29

Get Off and Walk

4min
pages 26-27

What the Body Knows, the Brain Told It

4min
pages 24-25

Eating Well as You Age

4min
pages 22-23

Take Steps to Support Literacy: Eight Ways to Inspire Children to Read

6min
pages 20-21

Letter from the President

3min
page 11

Letter from the President

3min
pages 12-13

Letter from the Editor

3min
page 7

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Utah: Bridging the Opportunity Gap

4min
pages 16-17

Mayoral Message

3min
pages 8-10
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