Anxiety Wreaks Havoc . . .

Salmon astound us with their grueling voyage upstream and stunning leaps up waterfalls, in their single-minded quest to return to the freshwater streams of their birth, where they spawn and then die . . . but why?  When salmon spawn their brain loses its ability to accurately measure the amount of circulating stress hormones and continues to send signals to the adrenal glands (the organs responsible for production of stress hormones, like cortisol) to secrete more and more.  Excess amounts of stress hormones wreak havoc causing enlarged adrenal glands, peptic ulcers, kidney injury and decreased immune system function producing infections.  Is this really what causes the salmon to die?  Well, if the adrenals are removed directly after spawning, salmon will live for another year.

As humans, we can't exactly remove our adrenal glands in order to decrease the harmful affects of stress hormones, because these hormones are also vital to our well-being.  However, in excess, stress hormones have been linked to heart disease, cancer, weight gain, depression, anger and irritability, just to name a few.  So what can we do to naturally decrease stress levels and keep cortisol, and other stress hormones, from increasing our susceptibility to chronic disease?

Exercise places your body in a state of controlled stress and teaches your brain, heart, muscles, lungs and other organ systems how to communicate and work together during such stress.  Then, when unexpected stresses arise, your body and mind are better prepared to handle them.

Meditation decreases cortisol secretion, lowers blood pressure, slows heart rate and improves both concentration and mood.  Meditation can be as simple as quietly sitting with your eyes closed, focusing on your breath for as little as 5 minutes.

Did you know that laughing 100 times is equal to 15 minutes on an exercise bike?  Laughter soothes tension, increases circulation, releases endorphins (pleasure chemicals in the brain) and makes stressful times seem a bit more bearable.  So, when all else fails . . . tell your favorite knock knock joke or rent your favorite comedy.

If these lifestyle changes aren't enough . . . there are many natural substances, herbs, amino acids, essential oils, homeopathic remedies . . . that may help.  Schedule an appointment with Dr. Kenna Brooke, ND to receive individualized recommendations on how to manage your stress levels!