Archive for the ‘Arthritis’ Category

15
Apr

The Physiology Of Stress – In The Eye Of The Tiger

   Posted by: Dr. Tonia Mitchell ND Tags: , , , , ,

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This is the second of a three-article series that will cover stress in detail.  In the first article, I covered the sources and symptoms of stress.  In this article, we will cover the physiology of stress and look at why bad stress makes us sick.  In the last article, I’ll review some simple stress reduction techniques.

All of us have most likely heard about the fight or flight response.  In the face of danger, or a perceived negative stress (let’s use the classic example of a saber-toothed tiger), the chemistry changes in your body so that you can do one of two things: fight the tiger or run like stink to get away from it.  The goal of either option is the same: to survive the experience so that you can pass off your genes to your offspring.

In response to a stress (real or imagined) your nervous system reacts first.  Your brain sends a signal to a gland (like a hormone factory) called the hypothalamus.  This hormone factory sends chemical signals to different parts of your body such as the adrenal glands.  The nerve cells in the inside of the adrenal glands produce and release adrenaline and we see an increase in blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, muscle tension and metabolism.  The blood flows from your digestive organs to the major muscles in your body.  Your pupils get bigger so your vision becomes sharper.  Your hearing and concentration actually improve.  The hormone system reacts after the nervous system.  Eventually, the outer part of the adrenal glands secrete cortisol.

Cortisol has many important jobs in your body during acute stress:

  • Increases blood sugar levels in the body, providing the energy to fight or flee;
  • Acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent;
  • Increases blood pressure;
  • Follows a daily pattern with the highest level secreted at around 8:00 am (to help us wake up), after which there is a gradual decline throughout the day. Levels are lowest between midnight and 4:00 am (to help us sleep).

The physiology of stress prepares us to battle or bolt. Once we have evaded (or killed) the tiger, our system ideally returns to normal.  In modern society our saber-tooth tigers come to us in many forms as discussed in the first article of this series.  Often, our modern tigers don’t even require a flight or fight, but our body still reacts this way.  Many social norms (manners, customs, insecurities) prevent us from actually facing the stress or running away from it.  Also, our tigers are more chronic in nature.

We find the following stress patterns in our western world today:

  1. Our fight or flight response is often active even though there is no actual threat to our safety.
  2. We are faced with chronic stress.
  3. Social Courtesies prevent us from engaging in combat or cutting out.
  4. The stress response remains unchecked and builds up.
  5. The stress response build-up leads to the production and release of constant, unopposed cortisol.
  6. We become sick from the stress cycle.

The less desirable effects of cortisol on the body in the face of chronic distress include:

  • A suppressed immune system leading to a decrease in our resistance to infections, cancer, and illness;
  • An increase in blood pressure which can lead to stroke, aneurysm or heart attack;
  • A decrease in bone mass (in an attempt to supply the blood with ample amounts of nutrients);
  • A depletion of natural pain killers (endorphins) which can aggravate pain anywhere in the body;
  • A decrease in both male and female sex hormones leading to decreased libido, impotence, absent periods and infertility;
  • Inhibiting the function of the digestive system (which works best when we’re relaxed) leading to diarrhea, constipation, bloating, abdominal pain or other related concerns;
  • A decrease in insulin sensitivity leading to or aggravating diabetes;
  • An increase in liver production of cholesterol which gets deposited in the blood vessels leading to heart disease;
  • A thickening of the blood which can worsen your risk for cardiovascular disease;
  • An affect on the functioning of the thyroid gland and thyroid hormone which can cause changes to your metabolism.

As you can see stress is a big player in our state of health.  Since stress is unavoidable, what can you do about this?  You can change how you cope with stress and improve your body’s capability to handle it.  Don’t miss the final article in this series, “Stress Reduction Techniques – Breath or Die, and I’m Dead Serious”

Naturopathic medicine is a safe, effective and natural approach to you and your family’s health.  Naturopathic doctors can and will empower you to live a healthy lifestyle while treating and preventing disease.  Find more information on the services I offer at Arbour Wellness Centre at Nanaimo Naturopathic Doctor.

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26
Nov

Laughter Therapy

   Posted by: Lita Tags: ,

I’m addicted.  Is this a bad thing? I absolutely MUST get some laughs in every day. Lately, I’ve been enjoying laughs between 11:00 pm and 12:00 pm watching my favorite TV comedy sitcom.  You would think, at this time of day, I would have complete freedom to just sit and have a good laugh.  I can’t believe it when my 18 year old daughter gives me one word answers to my friendly questions during the day (in other words mostly ignores me) then thinks nothing of dropping major bombshells on me during my sacred time of humour.

-         11:10 pm – Mom, I have to have $250 no later than 9:00 am in the morning to pay for the deposit on that course at University. I respond -  Huh? What course are you talking about and when did you tell me about this?

-         11:20 pm – Mom, I have a lump the size of a golf ball on my leg.  It’s been there for months.  My boyfriend’s Mother has a hernia and she has the same symptom and now I’m worried so I’m leaving immediately and I’m going to the hospital emergency department. I respond – WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? – Why didn’t you go to a clinic during the day? Why haven’t I heard about this before?

-         11:30 pm – Mom, my boyfriend just doesn’t understand me and we had a big fight two days ago and now all of our friends are taking his side and no one loves or respects me (tears flowing) – I respond – Mute the TV and while continually glancing at it I try to find some sympathy and understanding for this problem that I have heard so many times over and over during the years

-         11:40 pm – Mom, I’m starting a new diet tomorrow and here is a list of all the foods that I will need starting with breakfast in the morning plus I’m buying a juicer for my diet. It costs $200.  Can you help me pay for it?  I respond – PLEASE can we please talk about this tomorrow?

-         11:50 pm – Mom, I have to have a full length, black evening dress, with sleeves, for my Choir concert on Friday night.  When can we go shopping for it?  Oh, and my car has been making a banging noise for the last week or so.  It’s getting really bad – what should we do about it?  I respond – Why didn’t you tell me these things before, like all day today or yesterday or the day before, when I wasn’t indulging in my very best hobby of humour?

I have read that laughter relaxes the body and reduces problems associated with high blood pressure, strokes, ulcers and even arthritis.   I’ve also read that laughter decreases stress hormones while producing a general sense of well-being.  Remember the saying “laughter is the best medicine”? Humour is one of the most powerful tools that we can use to heal ourselves and reduce tension in our lives while building bonds and creating rapport with others. 

Considering I live with a teenager, humour could be a necessity in my life irrespective of my desire for it.  Do you have a good sense of humour and the ability to laugh at stressful situations? If so, these qualities will go a long way in helping to mitigate the damaging physical effects that distressing emotions may cause.  These days I fight the gray hair, wrinkles and teenage bombshells in whatever way that I can.  This includes good quality supplements, lots of physical activity and, my favorite, a daily dose of laughter.

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19
Nov

Lupus - What Are The Different Types?

   Posted by: author1 Tags: ,

The chronic pain of lupus can affect anyone from 15 to 50 and it does affect nearly 2 million Americans. As an autoimmune system, the lupus sufferer's body is under attack. The skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, the eyes, the nervous system and blood-making cells can all suddenly become targets. While currently there is no cure for lupus, the disease can be treated in different ways to minimize damage. For cases that are mild, your primary care doctor can monitor or recommend medication. If the lupus has progressed and affected other organs, a specialist like a Dermatologist, Cardiologist, Nephrologist or Neurologist may be needed.

There are five types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the joints and organs; discoid lupus, which affects the skin; sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which is characterized by skin lesions; drug-induced lupus that develops after a drug reaction; and neonatal lupus that affects newborns. Lupus signs include: fatigue, fever, weight loss/gain, joint pain/stiffness/swelling, butterfly rashes on the cheeks, skin lesions that worsen with sunlight, mouth sores, fingers and toes that turn white or blue in the cold, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, easy bruising, anxiety, depression and/or memory loss. The Lupus Foundation says there are no two cases of lupus that are exactly alike. Signs may emerge gradually or come on suddenly, and can be mild or severe. The majority of individuals have episodes of "flare-ups". If you want to get tested for lupus, your physician will pose various questions, go through a standard physical, have blood and urine samples done and get an electrocardiogram.

Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) manifests itself by way of inflammation, whereby scarring on the face, ears as well as scalp, and rashes are pronounced. The lesions may be inflamed, scaling or crusty in appearance, with the centers lighter and the rims darker. A small percentage of these patients have internal organ failure too, but usually symptoms are primarily skin-related. Cortisone ointment or injections can be helpful in treating the flare-ups. Drugs like Plaquenil, Aralen, Imiquimod, Quinacrine, Accutane or Soriatane are sometimes prescribed but should be carefully monitored for side effects.

If you're diagnosed with lupus, then it's important that you get 8-10 hours of sleep each night. Keep in mind that even very small amounts of light from the sunlight can harm you skin, so you should wear clothing that is protective, for instance lond pants and shirts, use SPF 15 or higher sunscreen, stay away from tanning beds as well as utilizing plastic devices that block UV type of emissions from indoor lights. Getting regular exercise is also important in recovering from flare-ups, reducing heart attack risks and fighting depression. If you’re a smoker, then doctors recommend that you quit because the risk of cardiovascular disease increases with the added vascular stress caused by nicotine. Lastly, eat a healthy diet of fruits, vegetables and whole grains. To keep your mood elevated, the Lupus Foundation offers educational programs, counseling, group exercising classes and community events like "Walk For Lupus" to help raise money and awareness. Becoming an advocate is a great way to regain a sense of control.

To learn more go to Arthritis Remedies and at Arthritis Pain

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