Stress Management

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of Dr. Favaloro’s pioneering work. Prior to his experimental
procedure in 1967, coronary heart disease
was mainly treated with medications.
Dr. Favaloro’s secretary found his body in the
bathroom of his home in what police called a suicide.
There was a bullet wound on his body, a gun
nearby and farewell letters written by the doctor.
Dr. Favaloro reportedly was unhappy about financial
problems connected to the surgical foundations
he established. Shortly before his death, he
was reported as saying, “I am going through the
saddest period of my life.” Unable to manage the
stress of his life, Dr. Favaloro lost a sense of hope
for the future and ended his life.
Stress can deprive us of emotional balance. It can
rob us of health. And, ultimately, stress can shorten
the span of our lives if left untreated. Sometimes it
seems that life itself is a breeding ground for stress:
traffic jams, difficult bosses, rebellious children, uncooperative
workers, tight deadlines, relationship
issues, etc.
Everyone experiences times of stress, however,
not everyone becomes “stressed out.” What
gives stress a negative name is not the condition
itself but our emotional and physical response
to it. The truth is that stress does not have to be
so stressful.