Health survival plan

Plunging retirement accounts. Crashing financial giants. Costly government bailouts and wars. Job cutbacks and longer hours. And $75 fill-ups. When will it end?

The bad economy is stressing everyone out, and the conventional thinking is that people may start ignoring their health: eating more fast food and sweets, saving money on gym memberships, drinking more alcohol, smoking more or restarting a smoking habit.

But local health experts say that the bad economy may actually help people live more healthy lifestyles by focusing on the basics of life, embracing the stress-relieving, productivity-boosting benefits of exercise and opting to eat at home more.

And for those who inevitably gravitate toward bad habits, experts say don't do it. Now is not the time to let your health slip.

"We can't control the Dow Jones numbers," says Dr. Patrick O'Neil, director of the Weight Management Center at the Medical University of South Carolina's department of psychiatry. "But we can control the numbers on our scales."

Eat at home

Unfortunately, for many local bars and sit-down restaurants, fewer people are heading out for nights on the town.

But eating out less and eating at home more, not to mention eschewing happy hour for after-work exercise, tends to be good for both bottom lines and waistlines.

"People getting back to the kitchen table tends to be a good thing," says Dr. Ann Kulze, whose Web site (www.drannwellness.com) features a video on "Eating Well on a Budget."

One helpful hint: Use the grocery checkout line as the barrier to junk food entering the house.

Charleston living

"Just a few years ago, (Federal Reserve Chairman) Alan Greenspan warned the nation was experiencing 'irrational exuberance,' " says local psychologist Michael Kollar. "Now, we are in a period of 'irrational despair.' "

Instead, Kollar says, now is the time to count your blessings, and one of them is living in Charleston, a great place to get outside, be active and "not engage in irrational despair."

"People spend thousands of dollars to come to Charleston to do the kind of things we can do year-round. We live in a perfect place, especially this time of year. Get active."

Know the biology

Researchers increasingly are tying stress to weight gain, particularly super unhealthy, visceral "belly fat," compliments of "comfort food."

Dr. Patrick O'Neil, director of the Weight Management Center at the Medical University of South Carolina's department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, says studies are finding that stress may trigger the brain, physiologically, to get even more rewards from eating foods with high fat and sugar than originally thought.

"It tells us that we need to be even more vigilant at finding ways to ameliorate the stress we're encountering in our lives," says O'Neil.

Drive less

Notice that traffic's not quite as bad as before the run-up to $4-a-gallon gas? Less driving means less pollution, less time sitting in a car and perhaps more time riding a bike, walking or taking mass transit, all of which are healthier.

Tracie Mathewes, manager of BlueFish Fitness Club at Aquarium Wharf, says she has noticed more members riding their bikes to the gym, though a high percentage also happen to live in downtown Charleston.

Most of us still have to drive, but combining commutes with stops at the grocery, school and health club, rather than making individual trips, is more efficient and frees up time.

Keep the gym

Local health clubs aren't saying memberships are dropping (yet), in part because most people have to sign a contract of a year or more.

Mandy Harrison, general manager at East Shore, has been tracking the trends and notes that usage, the number of members actually working out, is up.

"I think it's partly because people are traveling less and partly because, if they are paying a membership, they might as well use it," says Harrison, noting that many companies and employees can take advantage of discounted membership rates.

"I think people realize that their health, now more than ever, is important and that exercising provides stress relief," she says. "Everybody's talking about the economic crisis, but many forget that we're also in a health crisis."

Stress relief

"I think you will see a renewed interest with people being concerned about their health," says Dr. Ann Kulze, local wellness expert and author of "Dr. Ann's 10-Step Diet." "Why? Because people feel a loss of control right now, and you have enormous control over your personal health."

Exercise, she adds, is one of the best ways to control stress, boost productivity and avoid getting sick.