Chronic Stress Related Illnesses and its Affects on Your Body: Migraine headaches,high blood pressure, sexual dysfunction, etc.

Did you realize that almost 75% of all doctor visits are stress related?  Yes, stress and health are closely connected.  Research shows the effects of stress on the body and mind influence stress related illnesses.  In today’s fast pace lifestyle, many people are overwhelmed and stressed out in their lives due to financial problems, work related issues, or martial/divorce problems and these issues are causing major stress related illnesses every day. Coping with stress can be a difficult task.  Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The effects of stress can be positive - keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger- while, on the other hand it can also become negative. This occurs when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between challenges and physical illnesses related to stress develop as a result. Stress affect your overall health in many ways; the signs, physical symptoms or emotional symptoms of stress vary from person to person, but all have the potential to harm your health and emotional well-being. In fact, some evidence suggests that repeated release of stress hormones produces hyperactivity in the hypothalamus-pituitary axis and disrupts normal levels of serotonin, the nerve chemical that is critical for producing feelings of well-being. Stress causes blood to become stickier (possibly in preparation of potential injury), increasing the likelihood of an artery-clogging blood clot.

Chronic stress affects the immune system in complex ways, which may have various effects on the body.  Some examples of stress related illnesses are:

·         Migraine headaches and most other headaches

·         High blood pressure

·         Muscle tension

·         Ulcers

·         Insomnia

·         Sexual Dysfunction

·         Cancer

MIGRAINE HEADACHES:  Stress and anxiety can lead to tension that will eventually cause headaches. A common cause of stress headaches is increased muscle tension around the eyes, forehead and neck.  Tension-type headache episodes are highly associated with stress and stressful events. Some research suggests that tension-type headache sufferers may actually have some biological predisposition for translating stress into muscle contractions. Among the wide range of possible migraine triggers is emotional stress (although the headaches often erupt after the stress has eased).

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE:  Heart attack and high blood pressure have both been proven to be caused by increased or continuous unresolved stress called stacking.  High blood pressure puts undue stress on the blood vessel walls which may burst and cause a stroke.  This also causes increased pressure to be placed on the circulatory system and puts an unhealthy strain on the heart which in turn greatly contributes to the occurrence of heart attacks. Studies have reported an association between stress and hypertension (high blood pressure), which may be more pronounced in men than in women. According to some evidence, people who regularly experience sudden spikes in blood pressure caused by mental stress may, over time, develop injuries in the inner lining of their blood vessels. In one 20-year study, for example, men who periodically measured highest on the stress scale were twice as likely to have high blood pressure as those with normal stress. By reducing stress and lowering blood pressure you can greatly lower the risk of stroke and heart attack.

MUSCLE TENSION AND ACHES:  It has been reported that muscle tension is probably the cause of all stress headaches.  Muscle tension caused by stress includes having a stiff neck or shoulders or lower back pain.  Tightness in your muscles occurs during periods of stress. This occurs to enable you to move and be coordinated. However, an extended period of stress can result in sore muscles


ULCERS:  Stress produces excessive stomach acids that can destroy the lining of the stomach.  Stress also tenses and contracts the muscles of the stomach as it does the rest of the body and prevents proper digestion of food. Reducing stress reduces acids, promotes healing and good digestion.
 
INSOMNIA & CHRONIC FATIGUE:  The release of stress hormone under influence of stress will stimulate the brain preparing it to respond to the external stressor. Under constant or prolonged stress, the elevated level of stress hormones tend to keep the brain in an alert state and this causes the person to have difficulty going to sleep. When this continues, the person will be exhausted leading ultimately to chronic fatigue, which is a commonly seen physical symptoms of stress.  Also, being over worked, over stimulated and not coping with stress will keep you from sleeping, which in turn will add more to the stacking effect of stress in your life.   When the brain is over stimulated, the body produces adrenaline a chemical produced by the brain which is the natural stimulant that produces alertness and gives you the extra energy you might need to fight off whatever stressful problems you may be faced with. In order for you to go to sleep, the adrenaline has to be shut off and/or reduced so the body can begin to produce melatonin (a chemical produced by the brain that induces relaxation and sleep.)


RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS:  Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease of the immune system.  It is an auto immune illness in which antibodies (a substance in the blood that
normally destroys bacteria and neutralizes poisons) becomes misdirected against the body's own cells resulting in tissue damage.  Stress and tension and depression adds to the severity of this arthritis.  Like other stress induced or stress aggravated illnesses, rheumatoid arthritis often can be contained or completely diminished through a program of stress management.

SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION:  Stress can lead to diminished sexual desire and an inability to achieve orgasm in women. Stress response can also cause temporary impotence in men. Part of the stress response involves the release of brain chemicals that constrict the smooth muscles of the penis and its arteries. This constriction reduces the blood flow into and increases the blood flow out of the penis, which can prevent erection.


CANCER:  Though not scientifically proven to have a direct link to stress, it is believed that stress is a major factor that causes many different types of cancer. The reason being that stress weakens the immune system, which makes our body more susceptible to the “invasion” by cancer cells, and therefore has fewer and weaker cells to do the work of fighting off problems. The T cells in the immune system are the body's only real means of defending itself against cancer cells and they can only be created during the bodiy's relaxation cycle. By regularly decreasing your stress level, and not allowing the body to achieve the stress stacking effect, you can improve the body’s defense system. Increasing relaxation time increases T cell count and reduces the risk of cancer. Remember, stress weakens the immune system, significantly reducing the number of T cells in the body which are responsible for defending it against the malignant cancer cells.  Stress can also reduce the number of new T cells being created and reduce the amount of new blood cells being created and this dangerous combination can actually compromise your immune system.  And a compromised immune system paves the way for many different illnesses and diseases. The good news is that research has shown that the mind is able to induce its own relaxation response which adds to the body’s natural ability to create T cells. By deliberately inducing the relaxation response; such as watching a relaxation video, walking, exercising, reducing stress, listening to music etc., you can increase the T cell production and strengthen your entire immune system.

You must get control of the chronic stress in your life!  Keep in mind that the physical illnesses related to stress listed above can be caused by other psychological or physical problems, so it’s important that you consult and seek the advise of a doctor.

Your Success Coach,

Dr. Amy

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* Disclaimer:  The information contained on this blog page is for general reference purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice.  You should always seek the advice of your physician before starting any new treatment.

Dr. Oz's Success Habits for a Healthier Life

Dr. Oz's Success Habits

As featured in one of the cover stories for SUCCESS MAGAZINE, Dr. Mehmet Oz says you can make a habit for a healthier life—no matter how chaotic yours is. "We are designed to withstand stress; it's a natural part of life," Oz tells SUCCESS. "When you have no stress, you're almost certainly dead already." So embrace the natural stress you encounter and make a game plan for it. Here are three ways Dr. Oz says you can do so:

1. Build teams.
"It's very hard for anyone to be able to understand all facets of a problem, especially when you're dealing with complex problems with the real opportunity to make the world better. It doesn't mean you can't be the executive and make the decisions about what needs to be done, but you have a team of people you trust to provide support and perspective," Oz says.

2. Forgive people.
"You've got to forgive people. You come in contact with a lot of people and they will disappoint you at times. Give them a chance to surprise you again."

3. Put your ideas into action.
"Success is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration. I don't care how good you are, how many good ideas have you—a great idea on the back of a napkin is worth the price of the napkin. A thought has zero value without execution behind it. You've got to spark putting the pieces together.

The Amazing Dr. Oz

 Reprinted from Success Magazine

Between TV appearances, and magazine and newspaper interviews, Dr. Mehmet Oz hosts the Dr. Oz Show on XM Satellite Radio, consults patients and performs more than 200 surgical procedures each year. This cardiothoracic surgeon has published more than 400 articles for consumer and medical publications and is the co-author of the best-selling YOU book series. That’s all in addition to being a professor and vice chairman of surgery at Columbia University, director of the Cardiovascular Institute, as well as director of the Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. It’s no wonder Time magazine listed Oz as one of the world’s most influential people and Oprah Winfrey has dubbed him “America’s Doctor.”

Clearly, this 48-year old surgeon, entrepreneur, husband and father leads a busy life. He knows success doesn’t come without significant effort and a fair amount of stress. But stress is something Oz can handle, and it’s one of the “major agers” he is passionate about helping people understand. More than how to just survive stress, Oz teaches people how to offset its aging effects by developing healthy physical, mental, lifestyle and even fiscal habits.

“We are designed to withstand stress; it’s a natural part of life,” Oz says. “When you have no stress, you’re almost certainly dead already.” Any change to the body’s natural balance creates stress, but not all stress is bad. For example, exercise initiates change within the body: faster pulse, increased oxygen intake, the release of endorphins and other beneficial chemicals. Episodic stress, like exercise, is good for the system and can result in lower blood pressure and a healthier body. But in today’s fast-paced culture, Americans often fall victim to the downside of stress.

“The chronic, unrelenting stress, which is so typical of the modern life, is what we have trouble with because it doesn’t allow our system to reset itself,” Oz says. Unlike exercise, which revs the body’s engine and then allows it to return to its natural rhythm, ongoing stress keeps the body in a state of tension. This can be unhealthy for a number of reasons, but perhaps one of the most detrimental effects is aging.

Ongoing stress—the constant pressure of deadlines, politics at work, a dripping faucet, financial problems— makes people feel as if they’re perpetually behind, that they no longer have control. “That’s what’s behind the stress that’s really detrimental to us,” Oz says. “As soon as you’re no longer in control of your destiny—you’re not running after the prey but being run after—the benefi ts of stress begin to shift away from you."

The problem is not stress itself, but an individual’s reaction to it. Here’s the good news: While it’s impossible (and undesirable) to control everything and everyone around you, one thing you can always control is your reaction. By developing a game plan for life, you’re more likely to react positively and at least mitigate the negative effects of stress.

Making Exercise Routine

Becoming active is one of the best things a person can do to improve overall health. And before you say it, Oz doesn’t allow the “I’m too busy” excuse.

“You only have to work out for half an hour a day,” he says, and walking at a good, heart-pumping pace is a huge step in the right direction. “Do it by incorporating exercise into your job, take the stairs from one meeting to the next. Develop a routine so you’re not ‘working out,’ but it’s just part of your day. It’s the small things that make a big difference.”

Oz points out that Manhattan has a lower incidence of obesity than many cities because walking is part of the daily routine. “It’s too expensive to drive a car, so you walk. I biked from New Jersey into the city for more than a decade when I first came to New York,” Oz says, and exercise was only one of the benefits. “I did it in part because I didn’t have a car, but the main reason was I was by myself—no one could talk to me. I had an hour by myself when it was peaceful and I would come across the bridge and there was no traffic, no one was controlling my destiny but me. There’s a lot to be said for that. “In most parts of the country, you can’t walk [to work]. So we have to build communities long term that allow people to walk,” he says. “In the meantime, you’ve got to create your own existence.”

Eating Healthy

What goes into the body is also critically important. For Oz, a simple rule is: “Your diet should be rich in foods that come out of the ground looking the way they look when you eat them.” Natural, whole foods are the key to a nutrient-packed, healthy diet. Fresh produce, 100 percent whole-grain breads, 100 percent juice are all good options. When shopping, Oz says, “Look at food labels. Avoid trans-fats, which are hydrogenated oils; saturated fats, which are fats that are solid at room temperature; and simple carbohydrates, which on a food label look like simple sugar, alcohol sugars and molasses. You want to reduce the amount of these in your diet.”

Good health prepares the body to deal with stressful situations and it begins with healthy physical habits. But Oz says poor diet and lack of exercise aren’t detrimental only to adults. “If you look at the increased incidence of obesity in this country, it’s doubling among adults but it’s tripling among kids,” he says. “This is not just a problem we ought to get around to when we can. You can’t have a wealthy society if you’re not a healthy society.”

Building a Support Network

Successful people know the power of surrounding themselves with positive people. But Oz points out that one’s social network can be the key to a longer life.

“Major life events that are stressful— divorce, bankruptcy or any major financial stress, litigation, getting fired or losing your job for any reason—these strip away, on average, about eight years from your life,” Oz says. “If you have a social network intact that can support you during these diffi cult times, you can cut away three-fourths of the aging. So from the pure aging perspective, you can go from losing eight years for bankruptcy to losing two years of life. It’s still a detriment, it’s not good for you, but you can cope.”

In the parts of the world where people have the greatest life expectancy, relationships take priority. “People who are lonely do not do well long term,” Oz says. “Which is why active maintenance in friendships and networking, the role of the family, keeping people you love and who love you near you are very important drivers of healthy aging.”

One of the biggest challenges people have is the inability to live in the moment; “They don’t enjoy the now,” Oz says. “When you think about it, worry, fear, all the big stressful events are primarily issues of past or future; very few of them are issues of now. Meditation is one of the ways to put you in the moment. By getting into the moment you have probably the best stress-reduction technique of all.

“You start with breathing, but ultimately you control heart rate, brain wave function; you begin to control how your body responds to everything—good and bad. And that’s an important insight to know you can control the body to that degree.”

A Positive Outlook

Surrounding yourself with a supportive network and learning to live in the moment are part of the habit of optimism. “Your level of optimism and pessimism directly impacts how you cope with stress,” Oz says. Your outlook on life can also affect your physical health. The physical effects of attitude are best measured in illness. “When you compare pessimistic to optimistic people facing similar diagnosis, the infection rates shift, survival rates shift,” he says. “We think there’s a connection between mood and immune cell function.”

He explains the connection this way: “If you feel stressed and attacked and you’re pessimistic, you send different signals to immune cells which suppress helper T cells. Then your T-cell function, which would normally enhance your ability to withstand infection, starts to decline so you become more prone to infections. You also stimulate a maladaptive response in your immune system, which can create too many antibodies, and that can increase the risks of thrombosis, blood vessel spasms and the like.”

Another way to think of the effects of stress is to think of your body as being on an “autopilot system,” Oz says. “That auto-pilot system is supposed to be able to undulate—to be able to go back and forth between being revved up and not. But if you’re pessimistic, that autopilot system can fi x itself in a very ‘on’ position. It never turns off because you feel attacked. You magnify the stressful state rather than mitigating it.”

By maintaining an optimistic view of life—even during stressful situations—you give your body the chance to breathe, to recuperate. One of the ways to develop and maintain a positive attitude is to live with passion. “You have to have passion in life—you have to have a reason to keep your heart beating,” Oz says. “Pursue what you love in life.”

Habits for a Wealthy Life

It may seem strange for a doctor to be concerned about someone’s financial status. But on his radio show, Oz devotes serious airtime to credit, debt and money discussions. As long as insurance covers the bills, why would a doctor care about your financial well-being? Because money—specifically a lack of money—can contribute to stress, illness and aging. Oz, who earned an MBA from the Wharton School of Business while attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, sees a significant correlation between finances and health. “Four of the major causes of illness are driven by bankruptcy,” he says.

“And for personal bankruptcy, illness is by far the No. 1 cause. The reason bankruptcy is such a problem for us is that we lose the locus of control. And when you don’t have confi dence that life is going to work out for you—that you actually have some element of control over what’s going to happen in that life—you begin to develop chronic issues like hypertension, obesity.”

When hard times hit, maintaining a sense of control helps reduce stress and its effects. That’s why having a strong social network of friends and family who offer mental and even financial support is beneficial. It’s also why having an emergency fund is important. Though he isn’t a financial advisor, Oz gladly shares a simple tip he follows: Put aside 10 percent of what you earn. “I tithe myself,” he says. “This was true when I was making $29,000 a year as an intern, and it’s true with my money now. Ten percent of what I earn, I don’t touch. It’s as though I did not earn that money. I don’t actually put it aside for a rainy day. I’m putting it aside because that buys me peace of mind.”

Even if he never spends it, he says the peace of mind it gives him is worth saving that money. Peace of mind… it goes back to having a sense of control, which lowers stress levels, which reduces the likelihood of developing stress-related illnesses. While you can’t predict the future, you can prepare for it. By making an investment in your health with exercise and good eating habits, developing good mental habits, maintaining positive relationships and making wise financial decisions, you can offset the effects of stress and live a longer, healthier and happier life.

Article Written by:  Erin  Casey  For Success Magazine

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For Assistance with creating success habits for your life contact Dr. Amy today!

Email:  dramy@amyhymes.com

Office:  (703) 873-7086
The Prescription To Reach Abundant Success