LAKEPORT – You might not give much thought to whether your muscles are tense, how fast you’re breathing or the number of times your heart beats in a minute. These things occur whether you are aware of them or not. They’re beyond your control. Or are they?

And what can you do about stress? How do you handle it? Although we can’t eliminate all the stress in our lives, we can stop the stress reaction from taking over.

Sutter Lakeside Hospital invites you to experience a non-invasive and relaxing treatment by visiting our Biofeedback Lab.

Biofeedback is a tool that is used to monitor our physical and emotional response to stress. The advanced equipment monitors bodily functions such as heart rate, breathing, skin temperature and sweat response, providing feedback that can point you in the right direction to discover your relaxation response.

“The relaxation response is found within each of us,“ says Joe Prisco, Sutter Lakeside Hospital Physical Therapist and biofeedback specialist.

“Biofeedback can undo the negative effects of stress by bringing forth decreased muscle tension, heart rate and blood pressure, as well as a healthier breathing pattern, leading to a more peaceful, pleasant mood.”

Studies have shown that we have more control over so-called involuntary bodily functions that we once thought possible. As a result, biofeedback can train individuals to listen to stress signals from their own bodies and use various techniques to balance, release and recover from stressors, leading to a healthier life overall.

The Sutter Lakeside Hospital Biofeedback Lab is open to the public; no physician referral necessary. Sessions are self-guided and an orientation is given prior to the first session.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call the Sutter Lakeside Wellness Center at 707-262-5171. Visit www.sutterlakeside.org and watch the information video by clicking on the link: “Video: Biofeedback Lab.”

If you are interested in supporting Sutter Lakeside Hospital’s commitment to provide ongoing programs like the Biofeedback Lab, please call the Sutter Lakeside Hospital Foundation at 707-262-5189.