Antoaneta Sawyer, PhD
Modern life, as positive it seems to be with its latest, modern technology and scientific achievements, it has its negatives, as well. We live in these stressful times when stress is converting in the newest and most modern Western world disease.
Stress Syndrome (SS) is a state of emotional strain often brought on by overwork, prolonged study, emotional pressure, or a host of other physiological or psychological factors. (NH-WC "Beyond Holistic" LLC)
The connection between stress and disease is a topic that is researched extensively in the scientific literature. The human body is designed to handle temporary spikes of physical and emotional stress, but how much, in what degree and for what length of time it may affect human health varies from one person to another. While small amount or a short term stress is rather beneficial, the chronic emotional stress can dramatically increase the risk of many diseases as obesity, metabolic syndrome, heart attack, stroke, and even cancer.
We already know that chronic stress and depression are detrimental to the human body. (Sources, Wiki and Mayo Clinic) The scientific explanation behind this statement consists in the following: the amount of stress promotes reaction known as "lipid peroxidation" (a damaging biochemical reaction) to the liver cells (hepatocytes) during which a key chemical marker, known as "malondialdehyde" is found secreted as a byproduct of the cellular damage. (Source, Wiki)
As described, malondialdehyde works as a reactive aldehyde that can cause toxic stress while forming advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs), quite similar to the advanced glycation end-products (AGEs)- both with strong proinflammatory effect . Actually, the rate of produced malondialdehyde is used to measure the level of oxidative stress in the human body. (Source, Wiki)
Dyslipidemia and mainly lipid peroxidation play an important role in metabolic syndrome appearance. Oxidative stress has already been implicated in the accelerated atherosclerosis and microvascular damage complications of diabetes mellitus, which can result in widespread DNA cellular damage. (Source, Wiki)
Central to the main atherosclerosis pathogenesis (cause and development) combined with an earlier vessel dysfunction is believed to be the rate of oxidative damage of the LDL (bad) cholesterol (Journal of Sports, Science and Medicine, 2002).
Blood clots may easily block an artery already narrowed by a plaque, resulting in a heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, or aortic dissection. In the latest few years, Johns Hopkins University scientists discovered that an extreme emotional stress (grief, anger, worry, fear) can cause the so called "broken heart syndrome "(BHS), also known as "cardiomyopathy." (Source, New England Journal of Medicine)
Under stress, adrenal glands secrete hormones that induce the release of fat and sugar into the blood to be used for immediate energy supply. Stress disrupts normal hormonal levels in humans, influencing their eating habits. People who are not able to handle stress show high blood sugar and decreased release of insulin from the pancreas.
Under chronic stress, all body systems (cardiovascular, nervous, hormonal and endocrine) work in partnership to cope with the problem, provoking a quick narrowing of vessels, increasing the rate of blood coagulation, causing irregular heartbeats, and building up arterial plaque.
Depression, stress and obesity connection is researched by many teams of researchers. It is proved that chronic stress reduces body ability to neutralize free radicals (of oxidation). In a recent study scientists restrained mice, what induced serious level of stress in these animals. After 28 hours of being restraint, the blood levels of key liver enzyme - alanine aminotransferase (ALT) significantly increased, a guarantee that the liver is seriously damaged or diseased.
People who practice meditation and yoga are able to control and manage stress better than those who do not. It is noted that people who change their total lifestyle strategy and who use stress management relaxing techniques are able to control metabolic syndrome much better than those who only change their diets.
Stress management techniques can improve long-term glycemic control in prediabetes and diabetes cases. As stress can be contributing factor for multiple degenerative diseases, exercise, Yoga, Tai chi, Tae Bo, meditation and other relaxation techniques may be very helpful. The last can be practiced in conjunction with, or independently of a daily exercise or yoga session.
Yoga Journal offers several descriptions of specific meditation exercises. Some exercises involve deep breathing; others simply involve sitting quietly and either focusing on a specific thought, or letting go of all thoughts. Meditation is another excellent way to relieve stress and anxiety, but should be practiced on a regular basis in order to achieve lasting benefits. (Source, Learning Meditation)
Photo credit: Flickr
Courtesy of youtube.com
The connection between stress and disease is a topic that is researched extensively in the scientific literature. The human body is designed to handle temporary spikes of physical and emotional stress, but how much, in what degree and for what length of time it may affect human health varies from one person to another. While small amount or a short term stress is rather beneficial, the chronic emotional stress can dramatically increase the risk of many diseases as obesity, metabolic syndrome, heart attack, stroke, and even cancer.
We already know that chronic stress and depression are detrimental to the human body. (Sources, Wiki and Mayo Clinic) The scientific explanation behind this statement consists in the following: the amount of stress promotes reaction known as "lipid peroxidation" (a damaging biochemical reaction) to the liver cells (hepatocytes) during which a key chemical marker, known as "malondialdehyde" is found secreted as a byproduct of the cellular damage. (Source, Wiki)
As described, malondialdehyde works as a reactive aldehyde that can cause toxic stress while forming advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs), quite similar to the advanced glycation end-products (AGEs)- both with strong proinflammatory effect . Actually, the rate of produced malondialdehyde is used to measure the level of oxidative stress in the human body. (Source, Wiki)
Dyslipidemia and mainly lipid peroxidation play an important role in metabolic syndrome appearance. Oxidative stress has already been implicated in the accelerated atherosclerosis and microvascular damage complications of diabetes mellitus, which can result in widespread DNA cellular damage. (Source, Wiki)
Central to the main atherosclerosis pathogenesis (cause and development) combined with an earlier vessel dysfunction is believed to be the rate of oxidative damage of the LDL (bad) cholesterol (Journal of Sports, Science and Medicine, 2002).
Blood clots may easily block an artery already narrowed by a plaque, resulting in a heart attack, stroke, aneurysm, or aortic dissection. In the latest few years, Johns Hopkins University scientists discovered that an extreme emotional stress (grief, anger, worry, fear) can cause the so called "broken heart syndrome "(BHS), also known as "cardiomyopathy." (Source, New England Journal of Medicine)
Under stress, adrenal glands secrete hormones that induce the release of fat and sugar into the blood to be used for immediate energy supply. Stress disrupts normal hormonal levels in humans, influencing their eating habits. People who are not able to handle stress show high blood sugar and decreased release of insulin from the pancreas.
Under chronic stress, all body systems (cardiovascular, nervous, hormonal and endocrine) work in partnership to cope with the problem, provoking a quick narrowing of vessels, increasing the rate of blood coagulation, causing irregular heartbeats, and building up arterial plaque.
Depression, stress and obesity connection is researched by many teams of researchers. It is proved that chronic stress reduces body ability to neutralize free radicals (of oxidation). In a recent study scientists restrained mice, what induced serious level of stress in these animals. After 28 hours of being restraint, the blood levels of key liver enzyme - alanine aminotransferase (ALT) significantly increased, a guarantee that the liver is seriously damaged or diseased.
People who practice meditation and yoga are able to control and manage stress better than those who do not. It is noted that people who change their total lifestyle strategy and who use stress management relaxing techniques are able to control metabolic syndrome much better than those who only change their diets.
Stress management techniques can improve long-term glycemic control in prediabetes and diabetes cases. As stress can be contributing factor for multiple degenerative diseases, exercise, Yoga, Tai chi, Tae Bo, meditation and other relaxation techniques may be very helpful. The last can be practiced in conjunction with, or independently of a daily exercise or yoga session.
Yoga Journal offers several descriptions of specific meditation exercises. Some exercises involve deep breathing; others simply involve sitting quietly and either focusing on a specific thought, or letting go of all thoughts. Meditation is another excellent way to relieve stress and anxiety, but should be practiced on a regular basis in order to achieve lasting benefits. (Source, Learning Meditation)
Photo credit: Flickr
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