Specializing in emotional stress and cardiovascular disease, John M. Kennedy, MD, functions as the medical director of an interdisciplinary team at Kindred Health Systems, where he oversees the daily, evidenced-based care of patients. Outside of the hospital, John M. Kennedy, MD, serves as the CEO of Encardia Wellness, which operates under the goal of lowering stress among medical professionals.In an effort to highlight the effectiveness of Encardia’s seven-step BREATHE methodology, Dr. Kennedy and his colleague Dr. Lyssette Cardona conducted a study that included 29 physicians at the Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. These physicians, representing 10 medical disciplines, were encouraged to use the app-based program during breaks at work and record their heart rate before and after use.Each of the physicians who participated in the study experienced a decrease in heart rate after using the app, while the average decline was 5 beats per minute from 70 to 65. The use of guided imagery and controlled breathing was the reason attributed to an increase in parasympathetic tone, which, in turn, lowers heart rate. A similar study among registered nurses proved to be equally effective at reducing stress in the workplace.
The author of well-received books on heart disease and stress, board-certified cardiologist John M. Kennedy, MD, works with Los Angeles-based Kindred Health Systems as medical director of its interdisciplinary team. John M. Kennedy, MD, a technology-focused innovator, developed the Encardia Wellness app and a simple but effective technique called BREATHE.The average person takes 600 breaths every hour. Yet, as Dr. Kennedy demonstrated in a segment of television’s informational series The Doctors, we often breathe in ways that contribute to stress.In the episode, a busy single mother of two young children shared her hectic daily routine. Dr. Kennedy arranged a real-life simulation stress test for her. The woman’s heart rate soared to 170, a level typically only reached after sustained vigorous exercise. Additionally, her levels of the stress hormone cortisol soared.Dr. Kennedy then trained her in the BREATHE technique. In this method, “B” stands for “beginning”, in which a person places themselves in a receptive state. “R” means “relaxation,” and reminds the person to consciously let go of tensions while taking seven deep nasal breaths then breathing out through the mouth. “E” asks a person to “envision” a peaceful environment. “A” means “apply.” In this component, a person pictures, for example, her heart pumping as regularly and calmly as a waterfall in a guided visualization. “T” means to think of the experience as a “treat,” “H” puts the focus on “healing,” and “E” brings the patient back to the real world, more relaxed, at the “end.”
An author and cardiologist with decades of experience, John M. Kennedy, MD, is the medical director at Kindred Health Systems in Los Angeles, California. John M. Kennedy, MD is also the founder of Encardia Wellness, an app-based service that helps businesses effectively manage workplace stress among their employees.Mindfulness-based techniques like observational breathing and meditation aren’t just a passing fad in stress management. Research suggests that these practices have demonstrable positive effects on stress levels and other areas of a person’s life. Some of the benefits of mindfulness are a greater ability to empathize with others as well as an improved capacity for self-compassion.Research trials have shown that mindfulness techniques are on par with other relaxation methods in terms of reducing stress. In addition to facilitating the growth of empathy and compassion, mindfulness techniques can also help people develop strong comping mechanisms. This will allow them to better handle stressful situations as they arise and/or manage chronic mental health conditions they may be experiencing.
A board certified cardiologist, John M. Kennedy, MD, splits his time between leading the interdisciplinary team at Kindred Health Systems as medical director and overseeing Encardia Wellness as chief medical officer and founder. Outside of work, John M. Kennedy, MD, enjoys an active lifestyle and regularly rides his bike along the beaches of Los Angeles.One of the basic ways to stay safe when riding a bike is by using hand signals to let drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians know where you plan on going. These hand signals are used to denote where you intend to turn and whether you are slowing or stopping.To signal that you are making a left turn, extend your left arm straight out to the side. When your arm is extended, use your index finger or all your fingers to point left. Then, before you move, look to the left to ensure there are no vehicles or pedestrians present or approaching. As long as everything is clear, you can safely proceed with either your lane change or left turn.Meanwhile, a right turn is signified by extending your left arm out and bending it up at a 90-degree angle at the elbow. Your hand should be pointing upwards with the palm facing in front of you. Alternatively, you can also extend you right arm fully to the right and point with all your fingers or with your index finger. As with a left turn or lane change, make sure you check whether it’s clear to your right before moving.The signal you need for slowing is similar to that used for a left hand turn. For this, extend your left arm out to the side, bend it at the elbow, and point the forearm down toward the ground. Then, open your hand to display your palm to the people behind you.
