Stress and anxiety are an unfortunate, but sometimes necessary and inevitable feature of modern life.
As with diet, obesity, alcohol and smoking I am afraid that the news is simple. They have to be addressed.
Learning to deal with stress is something that can be consciously learned and practiced and new techniques have proven very effective.
A higher than average percentage of patients undergoing Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue treatment are, or were, engaged in high stress environments.
This may be or have been at home, as carers of relatives or young children. It may have been in work detail or during a divorce or home move.
Whatever the cause a significant increase in stress is frequently cited at the time of onset of the sufferers Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome symptoms.
As well as being implicated pre-onset, stress reactions are involved in the maintenance and exacerbation of the Syndrome post-onset.
Blood pressure, heart rate, the entire endocrine system which controls hormone production are all implicated and involved during stress reactions.
Unfortunately, the system that directly controls all these systems, the Autonomic Nervous System, in particular the Sympathetic Nervous System or "day nerve" remains malfunctional post-onset.
The result, unfortunately, will be an exacerbated negative reaction of your Fatigue and Fibromyalgia symptoms to stress and anxiety producing situations.
To make matters worse there is evidence that once activated the stress reaction lasts abnormally longer in patients afflicted with Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Is CFS more common in stressed people?
Let me first give a very broad outline of how general medical advice is presented to Healthcare providers in diagnosing Fibromyalgia and CFS patients:
"frequently seen characteristics of CFS and Fibromyalgia patients
* People who through their own personal attitudes and anxieties tend to make their own lives mores stressful.
* People who are highly ambitious, they appear to be always active physically and mentally.
* People whose lives are fully absorbed coping with the needs and requirements of others.
* People who avoid taking the time they need for themselves to rest, relax and recuperate and build supportive relationships that are entirely their own.
*People who have difficulty finding others to confide in, so bottling up years of emotions and pain at times of bereavement or loss. "
In itself this is not an inaccurate description of frequently seen characteristics of Fibromyalgia and CFS sufferers. However it is so broad that it can describe patients with a multitude of other conditions.
As I have said many times the human body is a remarkably resilient organism, able to accommodate fantastic pressures and stresses, but as with all machines and organisms there comes a breaking point.
Stress appears to be a very large facilitating factor for people who become the unfortunate ones to develop CFS and Fibromyalgia post "trigger" infection or trauma.
A lesser, but still analogous example of stress related conditions is frequently referred to as "burnout", or simply "stress" and I quote.
"A series of personal life circumstances combine to create a "breaking point", for example; death of a close family member, chronic pain, moving house, bullying at work, divorce, separation, financial loss or redundancy have all been linked to detrimental changes in health "
How stress can become a causal factor in Fibromyalgia and CFS
The initial trauma that was the notable "trigger" of your CFS or Fibromyalgia is usually cited as a bacterial/viral or chemically invasive attack of some kind, but it has been noted that in some sufferers extreme acute stress, such as bereavement, divorce, bullying, extremes of overwork may also be a trigger for CFS symptoms in the absence of a notable infection or exposure.
This makes sense in that scientific evidence has shown conclusively that stress lowers our immune defenses against infection as witnessed by white blood cell and lymphocyte counts.
Also, stress has been shown to directly affect the body in the short to medium term causing extreme fatigue and more disabling problems such as migraine, impairment of concentration and memory and interrupted sleep patterns.
Fortunately, as a society we have been woken up to the negative effects of stress.
As is often the case it has taken the negative economic implications of stress to spur employers and healthcare providers into action.
Sufferers no longer have to fight against the labeling that was common with previous generations which took the basic premise that "stress, depression and anxiety are all in the mind and are a sign of weakness"
How stress can maintain and exacerbate CFS and Fibromyalgia
Stress, depression and anxiety are known to slow down and in severe cases prevent recovery from infectious illnesses, and this is partly where the confusion and malpractice surrounding the CFS/depression arena was instigated and fed by general practice and psychologists over the last few decades.
The dividing line between the two conditions can appear very close to the untrained eye, but on closer inspection CFS and Fibromyalgia do in fact have a totally unique subset of features when compared to depression of any type.
To further muddy the waters both CFS and depression cause physical symptoms which can be similar to each other on initial presentation and also there is crossover with the symptoms of various infectious illnesses of the rheumatic and auto-immune spectrum.
As I have mentioned several times in my text, establishment apathy and nonchalance about the true nature of CFS and Fibromyalgia have lead to it being sidelined as a subdivision of psychology and particularly depression.
Historically, when help is sought, sufferers are left feeling isolated and misunderstood to the extent that they will begin to hide their symptoms, live in denial worried about other peoples reactions, and press on regardless while understating their illness.
Unfortunately, these typical reactions only serve to heighten overall stress levels which is precisely the opposite of the reaction needed for recuperation and so leads to a further exacerbation and worsening of symptoms.
A lot of sufferers understandably avoid further professional help.
Some work very hard to find a cure and convince people that CFS/ME/Fibromyalgia is a real illness. This leads to sufferers experiencing a desperate urgency to recover which is met and fed by a cynical and irresponsible health industry full of fake cures, miracle pills and treatments.
All this while sufferers are feeling threatened, scared, angry, stigmatized and generally ill.
The stress cycle goes even higher, and the result, sufferers sink even lower.
There are times in a person life when it may become particularly difficult to actually be ill at all.
For example as a carer of an ill relative, or a baby or young children, during a period of house renovation or construction, the demands of work as primary source of income.
In the absence of people that can help practically and emotionally in these life scenarios it can be very difficult to actually say "STOP".
Traditional medicine understood the importance of recuperation, rest, relaxation and contemplation as an important therapeutical facet of overcoming serious illnesses and infections.
In the presence of a frightening array of diseases which are now largely purged from modern society, and the absence of powerful antibiotics and antivirals, painkillers and analgesics, the body was largely left to its own devices.
In Traditional medicine patients were often treated with herbal tonics and natural cures, a lot of these were incidentally quite effective but have now been largely forgotten, dismissed or dismantled and reproduced in synthetic form to provide the basis of 75% of modern pharmaceuticals.
However the primary strategy of the era involved long periods of rest and recuperation.
By contrast, modern medicine and society place more importance on masking the symptoms, " keeping a stiff upper lip", "knocking it on the head" and "getting back on the job" as quickly as possible.
A "get well quick" protocol which unfortunately is completely at odds with a recuperative strategy for illnesses such as CFS and fibromyalgia.
Learning to control and reduce stress is an important and essential adjunct to any CFS and Fibromyalgia recovery strategy.
You will need to learn how to recognize stress and how to short circuit the sequence of events that leads to a "stress spiral".
Techniques of physical and psychological relaxation are essential and very effective.
Learning when to say NO is essential and avoiding all events and activities that place you under unnecessary stress or anxiety are essential in the short to medium term.
In my next article on this subject I will be talking about techniques that can be used effectively to short circuit and alleviate stress and anxiety at home, in the car and at the workplace.
Mark J Shaw - Mark is the author of a new digital book and training manual “Beat Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome" http://www.BeatFibroAndFatigue.com. Mark also publishes in a regular blog at: http://www.BeatFibroAndFatigue.blogspot.com.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
Once A Year Body Detox & Cleanse To Boost Your Health
The longer you live the more chances you will accumulate toxins in the body. It is not uncommon to accumulate toxins from the environment you live in. A yearly cleanse is something everybody should consider to help keep the body’s functioning properly and healthy.
Our bodies consistently detoxify itself every day and the primary organs that do this detox are the liver and kidneys. The body’s own natural functions can cause toxins while trying to detox itself and these toxins can impair the body’s ability to function efficiently, which can lead to debilitating disease and physical problems if left unchecked.
If you think you may have a toxic buildup in the body, there are some ways to know if the body needs to be detoxified. Some signs of toxic overload are fatigue, illness, constipation, gas, skin problems, nausea, PMS, depression, and poor circulation.
There are ways to rid the body of toxins naturally such as a cleansing or detox diet. Detoxification involves changes in diet along with an increase in fluid consumption specifically clean water. With a good dietary change, herbs can be used to help the detox process along.
We will first look at the liver. The liver is extremely important in ridding the body of toxins. The liver cleanses the blood and helps aid in digestion of the foods we eat. Everything we eat, breath, and absorb through the skin is processed by the liver; over time the liver can become over worked. When the liver becomes over worked it can not process and detox all the toxins entering the body, so the body will store these toxins and after years and years of storage, these toxins will cause disease.
The liver uses enzymes to break down toxins into water and fat soluble substances so that the kidneys and colon can eliminate them. The liver manufactures these enzymes upon demand. The more demand there is in the body, the more the liver is stressed and over time, damage can occur. There is hope from herbs like milk thistle, turmeric, licorice, and schizandra.
Milk thistle has a compound called Silymarin, shown in many studies to protect the liver. Milk thistle contains silybin, amines, thyramine, and histamine, known to fight toxins and help stimulate the production and flow of bile. Studies have shown that milk thistle can benefit severe liver disorders such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, as well as a general liver restoration and strengthening herb.
Turmeric is a spice used in Asian dishes but recent studies have found it to also be liver protective. Turmeric has similar properties to glycyrrhizin found in licorice. Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and studies have shown turmeric to increase enzymes in the liver that prevents inflammation. Like milk thistle, turmeric can increase the bile output in the liver. Turmeric can also breakdown carcinogens and toxins so that these harmful chemicals can be eliminated from the body without doing the body any harm.
As mentioned above, licorice contains glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid which stimulates interferon production in the body. Interferons protect the immune system. Licorice contains liver protective properties preventing damage due to toxic exposure. Studies have shown that glycyrrhizin can help prevent cellular damage in the liver. Glycyrrhizin has been used to treat hepatitis B and has been shown to improve liver function as well as reduce the enzyme levels used to measure liver damage.
Schizandra in some studies have shown to protect the liver from toxic build up. This herb can also boost the immune system by helping the liver eliminate the toxins that have been building up in the body. Excess amounts of toxins in the body can lead to immune system disorders. Schizandra has also shown in studies to protect against the effects of alcohol in mice and other studies have shown this herb to have regenerative properties in the liver. The Chinese have used Schizandra for infectious hepatitis and also as a liver protecting herb it can encourage liver regeneration after injury or disease. Other herbs that are considered beneficial for the liver are dandelion, burdock, and barberry.
The kidneys are the second most important organ next to the liver for cleansing the body. All the blood in your body will pass through the kidneys many times each day. Your kidneys will filter out toxins into urine and help maintain a healthy electrolyte balance as well as manufacture regulatory hormones for blood pressure. The kidneys control the rate calcium is metabolized and aids in the production of red blood cells. Keeping the kidneys healthy is very important; there are some herbs available that can help stimulate kidney function such as, parsley, yarrow, dandelion, and kelp.
For many years, herbalists have known about parley and its properties. Parsley is a powerful diuretic often recommended for those with kidney problems. This herb has been shown to inhibit the re-absorption of salt into the body tissues which increases the herbs activity as a diuretic. Parsley helps to improve and increase urination allowing toxins to be eliminated more readily by the kidneys. One component found in parsley seed has been used in drugs to treat urinary and bladder infections.
Yarrow has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. The active ingredient that gives yarrow this ability is called azulene. With urinary problem comes inflammation and herbs that can relieve inflammation can improve urination and alleviate and ease urination problems. Yarrow can also help regulate liver function.
Dandelion found in almost every yard in America is a great diuretic similar to parsley. Dandelion is high in potassium, when you are on diuretics potassium is eliminated from the body and needs to be replenished. Dandelion can be used to relieve water retention as well as help increase urine flow without causing an imbalance in potassium or the electrolytes in the body. Dandelion is a wonderful herb, in human studies have shown to increase bile flow which is beneficial to the liver, gallstones, jaundice, and the bile ducts. Dandelion is considered a bitter herb and its bitter properties have been shown to improve the release of toxins from the body.
The longer we live the more toxins our body will store, kelp is a wonderful herb found in the sea. Kelp has been shown to protect the body from absorption of toxic chemicals. One active component in kelp called sodium alginate which has been found to protect the body from radiation exposure and help the body remove heavy metals.
If you have never detoxified the body before, it is never too late to start today. Whether you choose to change your diet or purchase herbs for detox, cleansing the body will help fight disease, help your organs work better, and boost over all health. Herbs to detox the liver and kidneys can be found at your friendly online vitamin store.
Our bodies consistently detoxify itself every day and the primary organs that do this detox are the liver and kidneys. The body’s own natural functions can cause toxins while trying to detox itself and these toxins can impair the body’s ability to function efficiently, which can lead to debilitating disease and physical problems if left unchecked.
If you think you may have a toxic buildup in the body, there are some ways to know if the body needs to be detoxified. Some signs of toxic overload are fatigue, illness, constipation, gas, skin problems, nausea, PMS, depression, and poor circulation.
There are ways to rid the body of toxins naturally such as a cleansing or detox diet. Detoxification involves changes in diet along with an increase in fluid consumption specifically clean water. With a good dietary change, herbs can be used to help the detox process along.
We will first look at the liver. The liver is extremely important in ridding the body of toxins. The liver cleanses the blood and helps aid in digestion of the foods we eat. Everything we eat, breath, and absorb through the skin is processed by the liver; over time the liver can become over worked. When the liver becomes over worked it can not process and detox all the toxins entering the body, so the body will store these toxins and after years and years of storage, these toxins will cause disease.
The liver uses enzymes to break down toxins into water and fat soluble substances so that the kidneys and colon can eliminate them. The liver manufactures these enzymes upon demand. The more demand there is in the body, the more the liver is stressed and over time, damage can occur. There is hope from herbs like milk thistle, turmeric, licorice, and schizandra.
Milk thistle has a compound called Silymarin, shown in many studies to protect the liver. Milk thistle contains silybin, amines, thyramine, and histamine, known to fight toxins and help stimulate the production and flow of bile. Studies have shown that milk thistle can benefit severe liver disorders such as hepatitis and cirrhosis, as well as a general liver restoration and strengthening herb.
Turmeric is a spice used in Asian dishes but recent studies have found it to also be liver protective. Turmeric has similar properties to glycyrrhizin found in licorice. Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant and studies have shown turmeric to increase enzymes in the liver that prevents inflammation. Like milk thistle, turmeric can increase the bile output in the liver. Turmeric can also breakdown carcinogens and toxins so that these harmful chemicals can be eliminated from the body without doing the body any harm.
As mentioned above, licorice contains glycyrrhizin and glycyrrhetinic acid which stimulates interferon production in the body. Interferons protect the immune system. Licorice contains liver protective properties preventing damage due to toxic exposure. Studies have shown that glycyrrhizin can help prevent cellular damage in the liver. Glycyrrhizin has been used to treat hepatitis B and has been shown to improve liver function as well as reduce the enzyme levels used to measure liver damage.
Schizandra in some studies have shown to protect the liver from toxic build up. This herb can also boost the immune system by helping the liver eliminate the toxins that have been building up in the body. Excess amounts of toxins in the body can lead to immune system disorders. Schizandra has also shown in studies to protect against the effects of alcohol in mice and other studies have shown this herb to have regenerative properties in the liver. The Chinese have used Schizandra for infectious hepatitis and also as a liver protecting herb it can encourage liver regeneration after injury or disease. Other herbs that are considered beneficial for the liver are dandelion, burdock, and barberry.
The kidneys are the second most important organ next to the liver for cleansing the body. All the blood in your body will pass through the kidneys many times each day. Your kidneys will filter out toxins into urine and help maintain a healthy electrolyte balance as well as manufacture regulatory hormones for blood pressure. The kidneys control the rate calcium is metabolized and aids in the production of red blood cells. Keeping the kidneys healthy is very important; there are some herbs available that can help stimulate kidney function such as, parsley, yarrow, dandelion, and kelp.
For many years, herbalists have known about parley and its properties. Parsley is a powerful diuretic often recommended for those with kidney problems. This herb has been shown to inhibit the re-absorption of salt into the body tissues which increases the herbs activity as a diuretic. Parsley helps to improve and increase urination allowing toxins to be eliminated more readily by the kidneys. One component found in parsley seed has been used in drugs to treat urinary and bladder infections.
Yarrow has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties. The active ingredient that gives yarrow this ability is called azulene. With urinary problem comes inflammation and herbs that can relieve inflammation can improve urination and alleviate and ease urination problems. Yarrow can also help regulate liver function.
Dandelion found in almost every yard in America is a great diuretic similar to parsley. Dandelion is high in potassium, when you are on diuretics potassium is eliminated from the body and needs to be replenished. Dandelion can be used to relieve water retention as well as help increase urine flow without causing an imbalance in potassium or the electrolytes in the body. Dandelion is a wonderful herb, in human studies have shown to increase bile flow which is beneficial to the liver, gallstones, jaundice, and the bile ducts. Dandelion is considered a bitter herb and its bitter properties have been shown to improve the release of toxins from the body.
The longer we live the more toxins our body will store, kelp is a wonderful herb found in the sea. Kelp has been shown to protect the body from absorption of toxic chemicals. One active component in kelp called sodium alginate which has been found to protect the body from radiation exposure and help the body remove heavy metals.
If you have never detoxified the body before, it is never too late to start today. Whether you choose to change your diet or purchase herbs for detox, cleansing the body will help fight disease, help your organs work better, and boost over all health. Herbs to detox the liver and kidneys can be found at your friendly online vitamin store.
Fitness Is Only A Short Walk Away
The scientific experts all seem to be saying the same thing when it comes to health and fitness:
1 Obesity, overweight and physical inactivity are at record levels and soaring
2 These problems lead to increased risks from heart disease, strokes, diabetes and many other chronic illnesses
3 Most of us can reduce the risks of these illnesses by taking up a balanced diet and moderate exercise.
Advice on diet is beyond the scope of this article but, when it comes to exercise, one of the easiest ways to do more is to adopt an activity we all do instinctively but never think about seriously ... walking.
Walking is something you've been able to do since you were just a few months old, but have you ever considered taking it up as a serious fitness activity?
Well if you haven't you should!
The health benefits of walking are more compelling than for any other physical activity, simply because walking is so easy to do and you don't have to work up a sweat!
In the UK, The Chief Medical Officer recommends 30 minutes of 'moderately intensive' physical activity on five or more days a week.
So if you're out of shape but the thought of exercising fills you with horror, why not just start walking more often on a regular basis? You don't need any special equipment, you can do it anywhere and at anytime. And it's FREE!
Here are just some of the health reasons for taking up a walking routine:
* reduce your risks of heart disease, strokes and diabetes
* reduce your risks of high blood pressure
* reduce your risks of minor illnesses
* start to bring your weight under control
* get the stress in your life under control
* improve your sleep
* improve your posture
And for maximum health benefits, start your walking activities by getting out into the open air.
Walk in your local park, your local garden center, down by your local river or canal. Get out into the countryside and breathe a little of that rarefied air only to be found in the great outdoors!
You'll find it'll help you get life's problems into a more manageable perspective.
You don't have to go hill walking for miles. After all, you're only walking for 30 minutes, so short walks are all that's required.
And once you've done it, you'll want to do it again. This is guaranteed!
Not only that, once you've walked in the countryside for even a little while, you'll want to walk further. And the best rewards are usually to be found at the top of the hill. Of course, this will mean you'll have to work a bit harder, but the greatest benefit of all is getting to the top of a hill to see the view.
This on its own is enough to challenge the most stressful lifestyle and enable you to breathe far more easily.
For example, after reaching the top of Mam Tor in the Peak District (the UK's most popular National Park) and surveying the amazing views of Hope Valley and the Vale of Edale, your troubles will vanish into the ether and your heart will start pounding, not because you're about to have a heart attack, but out of awe and inspiration!
All this can be achieved with just one short walk!
Don't believe me? Well, try it and see for yourself.
Tony Dunne is a regular walker in The Peak District, the United Kingdom's most popular National Park. He is also web master of short-walks.com, a web site dedicated to short walks in The Peak District and the Cheshire Plain, areas of outstanding natural beauty, with countless opportunities for short walks.
1 Obesity, overweight and physical inactivity are at record levels and soaring
2 These problems lead to increased risks from heart disease, strokes, diabetes and many other chronic illnesses
3 Most of us can reduce the risks of these illnesses by taking up a balanced diet and moderate exercise.
Advice on diet is beyond the scope of this article but, when it comes to exercise, one of the easiest ways to do more is to adopt an activity we all do instinctively but never think about seriously ... walking.
Walking is something you've been able to do since you were just a few months old, but have you ever considered taking it up as a serious fitness activity?
Well if you haven't you should!
The health benefits of walking are more compelling than for any other physical activity, simply because walking is so easy to do and you don't have to work up a sweat!
In the UK, The Chief Medical Officer recommends 30 minutes of 'moderately intensive' physical activity on five or more days a week.
So if you're out of shape but the thought of exercising fills you with horror, why not just start walking more often on a regular basis? You don't need any special equipment, you can do it anywhere and at anytime. And it's FREE!
Here are just some of the health reasons for taking up a walking routine:
* reduce your risks of heart disease, strokes and diabetes
* reduce your risks of high blood pressure
* reduce your risks of minor illnesses
* start to bring your weight under control
* get the stress in your life under control
* improve your sleep
* improve your posture
And for maximum health benefits, start your walking activities by getting out into the open air.
Walk in your local park, your local garden center, down by your local river or canal. Get out into the countryside and breathe a little of that rarefied air only to be found in the great outdoors!
You'll find it'll help you get life's problems into a more manageable perspective.
You don't have to go hill walking for miles. After all, you're only walking for 30 minutes, so short walks are all that's required.
And once you've done it, you'll want to do it again. This is guaranteed!
Not only that, once you've walked in the countryside for even a little while, you'll want to walk further. And the best rewards are usually to be found at the top of the hill. Of course, this will mean you'll have to work a bit harder, but the greatest benefit of all is getting to the top of a hill to see the view.
This on its own is enough to challenge the most stressful lifestyle and enable you to breathe far more easily.
For example, after reaching the top of Mam Tor in the Peak District (the UK's most popular National Park) and surveying the amazing views of Hope Valley and the Vale of Edale, your troubles will vanish into the ether and your heart will start pounding, not because you're about to have a heart attack, but out of awe and inspiration!
All this can be achieved with just one short walk!
Don't believe me? Well, try it and see for yourself.
Tony Dunne is a regular walker in The Peak District, the United Kingdom's most popular National Park. He is also web master of short-walks.com, a web site dedicated to short walks in The Peak District and the Cheshire Plain, areas of outstanding natural beauty, with countless opportunities for short walks.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
