Stress and Dis - Ease
Featured Articles on Stress Include: "Stress"; "Stress Facts"; "Touch Therapy"; "Stress Management and Aging"; "Background on Cortisol" (The Stress Hormone)
Stress
The Occupational Health and Safety Administration has declared stress an occupational hazard! Once thought of as a condition of a weak mind, stress is now being linked to serious problems such as heart disease, cancer, industrial accidents, suicide and others. People are taking months of stress leave from work and are depending on prescription medications to sleep and forcibly relax their muscles.
In a state of stress the immune system shuts down to allow all the body's energy resources to be available for the "flight or fight" response. While the immune system is shut down the body is open to whatever diseases it comes into contact with. In addition, since even healthy bodies have mutant cells floating around, without the immune system to "take care" of the mutant cells, cancer can develop and multiply. When a body is holding stress, the muscles are generally tight or knotted and they tend hold toxins, lactic acid, etc. Toxins build up in the body and add to its general state of ill health as well.
There are a variety of ways to alleviate stress without the use of prescription drugs and even to prevent stress in the first place.
One method is to practice regular meditation. Thirty minutes in the morning and thirty minutes in the afternoon are ideal, but any time is better than none.
Exercise is another way of dealing with stress provided the exercise is not too strenuous. A brisk walk is excellent so the muscles work themselves and release some of the pent up stress.
Pets are a great way of releasing stress. Caring for and interacting with animals can actually reduce high blood pressure and relax the mind.
Taking time out to pursue an interesting hobby is very stress releasing because when the mind is completely occupied with an enjoyable activity it does not have the time or energy to ruminate over problems and schedules.
A full body massage, especially an aromatherapy one, is one of the most effective treatments for stress. When the body is being massaged, the muscles release their knots, which in turn releases the lactic acid and other toxins so they can be removed through the lymphatic system. The correct selection of essential oils will work to relieve stress held in the body, easing aching muscles while ameliorating mental stress.
Different oils work in different ways for different people. Some people prefer muskier scents and others prefer florals. Fortunately, there are a variety of scents in each category that will address mental stress by uplifting and calming the person or by slowing respiration and lowering blood pressure. Stress caused by hormonal changes can also be addressed with specific oils.
Insomnia is sure a sign of stress. Essential oils can be diffused in the room at night, placed on a light ring, sprayed on a pillow or dropped on a handkerchief and placed in the pillowcase. One of the best ways of fighting insomnia is to have an aromatherapy massage before bed and using one of the just mentioned methods throughout the night as well.
Whatever the cause of stress, essential oils and massage can play a big part in alleviating its effects.
Stress Facts
Excerpted from: Conquering Stress by KRS Edstrom, M.S.
Introduction by Paul J. Rosch, M.D., F.A.C.P.
President, The American Institute of Stress
You Are, to Some Extent, What You Do
Whatever effect your job has on you is carried into the rest of your life. Unfortunately, most of us regularly experience job stress. One survey revealed that 75 percent of Americans described their jobs as stressful. In 1991 a shocking one-third (34 percent) of us even considered quitting out jobs because of
stress! This means most of us are carrying a great deal of stress home each night, which is not exactly a health "plus". In fact, many authorities consider job stress the major adult health problem today.
� Almost 90 percent of us experience high levels of stress atleast once a week.
� Seventy-five to 90 percent of all visits to primary-care physicians are for stress-related disorders.
And it's not getting any better. The Mitchum Report on Stress in the 90s says that most Americans report beingunder much more stress now than five years ago.
� Every week, 112 million people take medication for stress-related symptoms.
� According to a recent nationwide poll, medications for stress-related headaches comprised 61 percent of allover-the-counter medications.
� The top three prescription drugs are for stress-related, preventable, conditions.
Stress Costs You Money
Job stress is costing industry (and therefore you) a lot of money. Look at these facts:
� Job stress costs American industry more than $200 billiona year in absenteeism, lost productivity, accidents, andmedical insurance.
� Of all industrial accidents, 60 - 80 percent are due to stress incurred by workers. A sobering seven in ten workers say job stress causes frequent health problems.
Job stress accounts for more than one-half of the 550,000,000 work days lost annually because of absenteeism. Workers say their companies are responsible for their stress and they want compensation. Eighty-two percent think that burnout victims deserve disability pay from their employers. And apparently they are getting it - in epidemic portions.
Consequently, industry is suffering. Each case costs employers and insurers an average of $73,270 for disability payments. Industry complains that while some suits may be valid, everyone is jumping on the money wagon and claiming anything and everything as stress related.
Touch Therapy for Less Stress
As you now know, stress gets locked up in our bodies and causes more stress. The power of touch is well-documented from helping incubator babies and comatose patients to simple stress reduction.
Massage is a good way to release bound up negative energy incurred by stress in your body by manually relaxing the muscles to allow energy to flow to all parts of the body.
If you can't afford a massage, think about touching and being touched more. Remember the hug craze of the '80s? I never got into hugging strangers, but the concept is valid. With those whom you feel comfortable, you might exchange one-minute shoulder massages right at your desk.
Besides relaxing muscles, I believe there is a tangible field of positive energy that is transferred through touch that is therapeutic for body and soul.
Stress Management
The hormone cortisol, which is released in the body during stressed or agitated states, has gained widespread attention as the so-called "stress hormone." But this hormone is more than a simple marker of stress levels. It is necessary for the functioning of almost every part of the body. Excesses or deficiencies of this crucial hormone also lead to various physical symptoms and disease states.
According to Dr. Elaine Chan, featured on an anti-aging special on WTN, massage is the best way to reduce stress induced cortisol levels in the body. Dr. Chan says that there are no medications to do this and the reduction of cortisol in the system after massage is the reason we tend to get a better night sleep on those days.
Because cortisol is the "stress" hormone, it is also linked to the aging process. Therefore, with proper stress management, including regular massage, we should age more gracefully.
Aromatherapists focus on stress first when selecting essential oils for massage. Many of the oils have a very calming and relaxing effect, for instance; Roman Chamomile, Lavender, Rosewood, Neroli, Sandalwood, and many more.
Background on Cortisol
Cortisol is a steroid hormone made in the adrenal glands, which are small glands adjacent to the kidneys. Its important functions in the body include roles in the regulation of blood pressure and cardiovascular function as well as regulation of the body's use of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats.
Cortisol secretion increases in response to any stress in the body, whether physical (such as illness, trauma, surgery, or temperature extremes) or psychological. When cortisol is secreted, it causes a breakdown of muscle protein, leading to release of amino acids (the "building blocks" of protein) into the bloodstream. These amino acids are then used by the liver to synthesize glucose for energy, in a process called gluconeogenesis. This process raises the blood sugar level so the brain will have more glucose for energy. At the same time the other tissues of the body decrease their use of glucose as fuel.
Cortisol also leads to the release of so-called fatty acids, an energy source from fat cells, for use by the muscles. Taken together, these energy-directing processes prepare the individual to deal with stressors and insure that the brain receives adequate energy sources.
The body possesses an elaborate feedback system for controlling cortisol secretion and regulating the amount of cortisol in the bloodstream. The pituitary gland, a small gland at the base of the brain, makes and secretes a hormone known as adrenocorticotrophin, or ACTH. Secretion of ACTH signals the adrenal glands to increase cortisol production and secretion. The pituitary, in turn, receives signals from the hypothalamus of the brain in the form of the hormone CRH, or corticotropin-releasing hormone, which signals the pituitary to release ACTH.
Almost immediately after a stressful event, the levels of the regulatory hormones ACTH and CRH increase, causing an immediate rise in cortisol levels. When cortisol is present in adequate (or excess) amounts, a negative feedback system operates on the pituitary gland and hypothalamus, which alerts these areas to reduce the output of ACTH and CRH, respectively, in order to reduce cortisol secretion when adequate levels are present.
Measurement of Cortisol levels
The body's level of cortisol in the bloodstream displays what is known as a diurnal variation—that is, normal concentrations of cortisol vary throughout a 24 hour period. Cortisol levels in normal individuals are highest in the early morning at around 6-8 am and are lowest around midnight. Normal levels of cortisol in the bloodstream range from 6-23 mcg/dl (micrograms per deciliter). In addition to early morning, cortisol levels may be somewhat higher after meals.
While the most common test is measurement of the cortisol level in the blood, some doctors measure cortisol through a saliva sample, as salivary cortisol levels have been shown to be an index of blood cortisol levels. Sometimes by-products of cortisol metabolism are also measured, such as 17 hydroxycorticosteroids, which are inactive products of cortisol breakdown in the liver. In some cases measurement of urinary cortisol levels is of value. For this test, urine is collected over a 24 hour period and analyzed.
Stress, along with a number of medical conditions and diseases, can be responsible for an elevated level of cortisol in the blood. So how can you determine if your elevated level is simply a result of a stressful lifestyle or some other, more serious condition?
If your cortisol level is elevated, your doctor will likely want to perform other blood tests to precisely determine the reason for your high cortisol level. He or she may also suggest repeating the cortisol test at a time when you feel less stressed or more relaxed.
If your level decreases when you feel less pressured and calmer, your elevated cortisol is likely a result of physical or emotional stress. Likewise, if you are ill when the cortisol level is measured, you are likely to have an elevated level.
Repeating the test when you feel healthy and well will determine if your body is indeed producing too much cortisol under normal conditions. While a slightly elevated cortisol value, rather than a drastic increase, is more likely indicative of a stress-induced change, there are no hard and fast rules for determining the cause of an elevated cortisol level without additional testing. Testing blood levels or functional activity of related hormones such as ACTH and CRF can help your doctor determine the precise reason for a high cortisol value and decide on an appropriate treatment.
Source information on cortisol was provided by Melissa C. Stoppler, MD
Measurement of Cortisol Levels
The body's level of cortisol in the bloodstream displays what is known as a diurnal variation—that is, normal concentrations of cortisol vary throughout a 24 hour period. Cortisol levels in normal individuals are highest in the early morning at around 6-8 am and are lowest around midnight. Normal levels of cortisol in the bloodstream range from 6-23 mcg/dl (micrograms per deciliter). In addition to early morning, cortisol levels may be somewhat higher after meals.
While the most common test is measurement of the cortisol level in the blood, some doctors measure cortisol through a saliva sample, as salivary cortisol levels have been shown to be an index of blood cortisol levels. Sometimes by-products of cortisol metabolism are also measured, such as 17 hydroxycorticosteroids, which are inactive products of cortisol breakdown in the liver. In some cases measurement of urinary cortisol levels is of value. For this test, urine is collected over a 24 hour period and analyzed.
Stress, along with a number of medical conditions and diseases, can be responsible for an elevated level of cortisol in the blood. So how can you determine if your elevated level is simply a result of a stressful lifestyle or some other, more serious condition?
If your cortisol level is elevated, your doctor will likely want to perform other blood tests to precisely determine the reason for your high cortisol level. He or she may also suggest repeating the cortisol test at a time when you feel less stressed or more relaxed.
If your level decreases when you feel less pressured and calmer, your elevated cortisol is likely a result of physical or emotional stress. Likewise, if you are ill when the cortisol level is measured, you are likely to have an elevated level.
Repeating the test when you feel healthy and well will determine if your body is indeed producing too much cortisol under normal conditions. While a slightly elevated cortisol value, rather than a drastic increase, is more likely indicative of a stress-induced change, there are no hard and fast rules for determining the cause of an elevated cortisol level without additional testing. Testing blood levels or functional activity of related hormones such as ACTH and CRF can help your doctor determine the precise reason for a high cortisol value and decide on an appropriate treatment.
Source information on cortisol was provided by Melissa C. Stoppler, MD
