Oct. 4--TAKE TIME AWAY FROM THE FINANCIAL MESS: Have you sat in front of the television, watching talking heads expound upon the recent dire news from Wall Street? Or have you exercised your remote control finger to check out something softer and more stress-free, like ultimate cage fighting?

Either way, there's a good chance that your anxiety levels have ratcheted up a notch or two the past couple of weeks. As worries about investments, retirement funds and the future of the economy have danced in our heads, it's easy to find an elevated heart rate, a white knuckle grip on an armchair or a path worn into the carpet from excessive pacing.

OK, maybe I exaggerate the situation for some you out there, but no doubt stress is a house guest who has come to visit and clearly overstayed his welcome.

There have been a myriad of stories about how the Wall Street mess could affect all of us "average Americans." One that might be getting overlooked is the toll this could be taking on our health.

It is no secret that stress is a large cause of health problems. Stress affects hypertension, immunity as well as digestive disorders and headaches.

While it is good to be informed, that does not mean we have to stay glued to the television or Internet as the same news is repeated in varying degrees. Pry your eyes away from time to time and take a walk, play a game with family members, or help the kids with their homework.

A way to fight stress is to start exercising and to eat healthy, if you are not already doing so.

Some folks have turned to faith. Reuters recently reported that religious leaders said attendance was up at lunchtime meetings in New York's financial district last week, with many more people in business attire than usual.

As for worry about what to do with your investments/money, the fact that the economy is hurting in a variety of sectors could actually take away some of the stress of trying to shift money from one section to another. Sure you can still do that, but what the experts are saying is that, as long as your investments are diverse -- in other words you don't have all your eggs in one basket -- you might be better off just leaving them alone. As New Mexico State University economist James Peach said last week, "Where are you going to put it, under your pillow?"

So go ahead and stay in touch with the news. The first thing I do in the morning is take the remote off my nightstand table and turn on CNN, Fox News, MSNBC or CNBC, whichever one was on when I shut the TV off. More and more, though, I click to ESPN first.