Health and fitness briefs for Tuesday, Nov. 20

The problem always has existed, but now experts are recognizing exactly how widespread bullying is. An Integris news release cites surveys indicating that as many as half of all children are bullied as some time during their school years; at least 10 percent are bullied regularly.

The Integris Hispanic Initiative wants to spread the word about the bullying “epidemic” to Spanish speakers. Belen Rodriguez, public relations coordinator for Hispanic affairs, will discuss the issue tonight. Rodriguez will tell parents how important it is for them to discuss bullying with their children, share the warning signs of bullying and point out ways to identify bullies and their victims.

The presentation will be conducted in Spanish. It will be from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Medical Office Building at Integris Southwest Medical Center, Suite B-10, 4200 S Douglas Ave.

For more information or to register for the session, call 951-2277 and press 2 for Spanish.

The Integris Cancer Institute of Oklahoma hosts regular “fireside chats” to share health-related news and answer questions in an informal setting. The next chat, titled “Balancing Life Stress During the Holiday Season,” will be on Dec. 11.

“Are the holidays stressing you out?” asks an Integris news release. “Learn how to cope with major stressors and start enjoying the non-stressful details of your life during the holiday season! Stressful situations are often hard to avoid. They can even be happy occasions. Don't ignore the signs until you're mentally and physically worn down.”

It's kind of sad to think about how “the most wonderful time of the year” can be among the most difficult. Worrying about how to pay for all those Christmas presents, serving the perfect meal and hosting a large family get-together can become overwhelming.

They shouldn't be. At heart, the holidays are about togetherness, whether you're exchanging gifts with someone you care about or connecting with relatives you rarely see.

Dr. Charlotte Coyner of Integris Family Care Memorial West will teach de-stressing techniques to manage and cope with what stresses you.

During the presentation, enjoy free chair massages and hot cocoa. The event will be from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the cancer institute, 5911 W Memorial Rd. Attendees are invited to tour the cancer institute and the ProCure Proton Therapy Center.