How To Overcome Killer Stress

How To Overcome Killer Stress





How To Overcome Killer Stress


PAYDAY

It was November 30, 1991 - the date is firmly etched in my mind
- we had returned from visiting a older friend. I took a
shower, then became extremely nauseated - I don't ever remember
being that ill - then tried to throw up, but was too sick to. I
then headed for the front door to get some fresh air and became
dizzy. I lay down on the floor to avoid passing out. Heart
attack! came to mind - I may be dying. I asked my wife to call
the ambulance. I prayed aloud, asking God to forgive my sins. I
wanted to call my son in Tulsa, but there was not enough time.
The ambulance crew arrived, along with two friends. One prayed
aloud for me. The cool night air felt good.

Preliminary tests at ICU indicated a stomach virus, but the
attending physician recommended further tests. There had been
heart symptoms for about ten years, but I hadn't followed the
doctor's advice for medical tests. I had noticed pain up into my
neck during exertion, and a general heaviness in the chest area.
There were times when my heartbeat would skip and I became
winded easily.

My wife had suffered a stroke in 1986 and was later pronounced
permanently disabled. To compound the situation, now we were
under great financial stress. My mailorder business was not
doing well financially, though I enjoyed it and it seemed
tailor-made for our circumstances.

A resting EKG indicated that my heart was not getting enough
oxygen. A stress ekg indicated some problem. Then, in January
1992, a heart catheterization indicated that I had not had a
heart attack. I was placed on one aspirin per day and Cardizem,
which is a heart and blood pressure medicine.

Stress was making me seriously ill. My family was very
supportive, but stress agents were taking their toll. I had
served as an Army Chaplain in Vietnam, and finished a military
career in the Army Reserve, retiring a colonel in 1988. I had
earned a BA, two masters degrees and a doctorate, taught in two
colleges for a total of five and a half years, pastored for
eleven years and spent about five years in school
administration. At one time, I was teaching a full load at
college, working on a doctorate and working on a reserve
military career.

Things went to "zero." Children made me nervous. Crowds of
people bothered me. I didn't want to go anywhere. Other physical
problems began to surface. I looked for a pastorate and jobs,
but didn't know if I could perform. Bankruptcy was put off until
stress forced the issue - we filed for bankruptcy December 1992.

I had been effectively become a drug addict. No, I did not
inject drugs in my veins or smoke or "snort" them. But, by worry
and stress, I inadvertently had my brain command the adrenal
gland to do so! Many of you are stressed-out, too. Learn from my
bad experience, or you may not be so fortunate. Sometimes the
first heart attack is the killer!


SHORT-TERM STRESS (FEAR)

God made a human being so that in case of real or imagined
danger, the adrenal medulla (the inside part of the adrenal
gland) produces adrenaline, a hormone, which is injected into
the blood stream. Adrenaline produces an "acute alarm" reaction
in the body. This acute reaction is generally short-term. The
heart beats faster and blood pressure is raised. Blood is
shunted from the stomach and skin to the muscles to provide
physical strength for "fight or flight." High-energy fats are
dumped into the bloodstream, blood sugar level rises, breathing
quickens, eyes dilate and chemicals appear in the blood to clot
blood rapidly in case of injury. This heightened condition may
save one's life, but it is hard on the body.


LONG-TERM STRESS (WORRY)

When one perceives a real or imagined loss of control, the
adrenal cortex (the outside part of the adrenal gland) produces
cortisol, another hormone, which is injected in the blood
stream. Cortisol produces a "vigilance reaction" in the body.
This is a chronic reaction - a long term state. Blood pressure
rises slowly, body tissues retain sodium and other vital
chemicals. High-energy fats and blood-clotting chemicals are
released into the blood stream. Sex hormones are repressed.
Gastric acid production is increased to maximize digestion. The
immune system is repressed, making one more susceptible to
disease.


WORRY-INDUCED ILLNESS

Both conditions can trigger a heart attack. Excess stomach acid
can cause ulcers, Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
and continued high blood pressure can result due to continued
stress. In short, fear, anxiety, overconcern and worry causes
the brain to command the adrenal gland to inject strong
chemicals into the blood stream. These chemicals act as a poison
over a period of time.

Dr. S. I. McMillen discloses,

Emotional stress can cause high blood pressure, toxic goiter,
migraine headaches, arthritis, apoplexy (cardiovascular accident
or stroke), heart trouble, gastrointestinal ulcers, and other
serious diseases too numerous to mention.

Dr. Carl Jung was the first to teach that the cause of
schizophrenia was a toxin injurious to the brain - said toxin
being formed by emotional disturbance, especially anxiety.

In short, worry or anxiety can cause physical and mental illness.


THE WAY BACK

One by one, with the help of God and others, I worked on each
stress agent. A program of walking, diet and medicine is
helping. I recommend two excellent resource books to help
overcome killer stress.

One of the best medical resources for stress management is Dr.
Robert S. Eliot's book, Is It Worth Dying For? How to Make
Stress Work for You - Not Against You. Dr. Eliot experienced a
heart attack himself, and now directs the Institute of Stress
Medicine in Denver and serves as Professor of Cardiology at the
University of Nebraska Medical Center.


How To Overcome Killer Stress

Fueling Up On Water

Fueling Up On Water
by Tycoon2k




Fueling Up On Water


It's our body's vital fuel, a health drink from mother nature.
It's calorie-free, inexpensive and easily obtained. Yet few
people follow the old fashioned advice to drink eight glasses
of water a day.

Most people drink when they are thirsty, but the beverage of
choice tends to be some other drink besides water. Americans
drink two or three glasses of plain water a day, according to
a U.S. Department of Agriculture survey conducted in the late
1970. Based on an analysis of all fluid intake by adults, it
is said to total about two quarts of water a day, and this
includes water from foods and from other beverages. It's not
usually necessary to actually swallow two quarts of plain water
every day. However, people with special problems such as kidney
conditions might be exceptions.

Americans drink eight gallons of bottled water a year, roughly
two ounces or a quarter-cup a day, according to the International
Bottled Water Association. Californians drink three times the
national average of bottled water, downing 24 gallons a year, or
nearly a cup a day. Climate and seasons of the year play a role
in one's thirst also, and just as we tend to perspire more in the
summer months, we also tend to drink more water.

Boosting intake of plain water makes good sense, many experts
concur, because water eases digestion and regulates body
temperature.

Water also bathes the cells and accounts for about 60 percent
of body weight. And it can help us exercise longer and more
efficiently. Drinking water can ward off constipation and maybe
even crankiness. An since it's a natural appetite suppressant,
water can help us lose weight and keep it off. It can help keep
skin healthy, although it won't necessarily banish acne.

Who should drink water? We all should, but pregnant women,
nursing mothers and athletes should be especially careful to
drink a sufficient amount. When it is hot or humid, upping
water intake is also wise. There are certain workers who seem
to have a more difficult time developing the water-drinking habit.
Among those who don't normally drink enough water are teachers,
airline attendants and nurses.

Drinking fluids, particularly, water, during exercise reduces
cardiovascular stress and improves performance. After a strenuous
workout, you have to replace the fluids you have lost. Otherwise,
you will suffer chronic dehydration. Drink water before, during
and after exercising, and remember that water reduces body
temperature thus making the whole exercise process safer.

Water can be especially helpful for people with a history of
kidney stones because it dissolves calcium in the urine, reducing
the risk of stone formation. Among physicians, urologists are
probably most likely to extol the virtues of water, And it has
been documented that drinking water mostly before 6 P.M. can
reduce the likelihood of nocturnal bathroom visits.

It is interesting to note also that water helps prevent urinary
tract infections, both for men and for women. Too busy to count
how many glasses a day you drink? There are other ways to calculate
if your intake is sufficient. Dark-colored urine often suggest you
aren't drinking enough water. Get into the habit by starting with
a glass of water with every meal, then work in a cup between meals.




Fueling Up On Water
by Tycoon2k