5 Health Risks of Chronic Stress

Many, if not most, people in Mansfield struggle with stress on a daily basis. Whether it’s a deadline at work, a car breaking down, bills, or relationship problems, the number of factors that cause stress in modern life are too numerous to list or count. A 2012 study by the American Psychological Association (APA) reported that 20%, or one fifth, of Americans self-rated their day-to-day stress levels as an 8, 9, or 10 on a scale of 1-10. Some researchers go so far as to classify stress as a nationwide public health epidemic.

What is stress? Stress is an organism’s reaction to environmental conditions or stimuli that the body interprets as dangerous or threatening. The human body responds to such “stressors” by engaging the sympathetic nervous system in what is sometimes called a “fight-or-flight response.” The stress response is mediated in the brain; mostly in the midbrain areas associated with emotion. Stressors are associated with the release of certain hormones. One of the best-known of these is a hormone called cortisol, a glucocorticoid steroid. Stress is a natural reaction that evolved in order to prepare us for threats to our health and safety. Nowadays, this reaction is triggered by work, relationships, and other more modern concerns.

If you’re like most people in Mansfield, you experience some level of stress on a fairly regular basis. Maybe you deal with a lot of stress. Maybe it’s rare that you don’t feel stressed out. You’re probably well aware that being stressed out is highly unpleasant and psychologically damaging, but you may not be aware of the many physical health risks associated with stress.

Health Risk #1: Stress makes you more likely to get sick.

The steroid hormone cortisol is released as part of the body’s “stress response”. The main function of cortisol is to redistribute energy, in the form of the sugar glucose, to parts of the body where it is needed in order to fight or flee from a threat. Cortisol also inhibits the immune system by inhibiting the proliferation of T-cells, a type of white blood cell instrumental in fighting off disease. The effects of cortisol on the immune system mean that chronic stress makes you more likely to come down with something. It is also part of why shingles most often occurs as a result of stress.

Health Risk #2: Stress Increases Your Risk of Developing Anxiety or Depression

People who have depression or anxiety in Mansfield tend to produce less serotonin and more cortisol in their brains. Elevated cortisol levels from chronic stress can also impede the synthesis of serotonin, due to its effects on tryptophan, a precursor molecule for serotonin. People who are chronically stressed are more likely to develop a mental health issue, such as depression or anxiety.

Health Risk #3: Stress Increases Your Risk of Heart Disease

In excess, such as when it is secreted in a stress response, cortisol raises blood pressure, meaning chronic stress in Mansfield is a risk factor for hypertension. Over time, stress increases a person’s susceptibility to cardiovascular problems.

Health Risk #4: Stress Impairs Your Memory

Chronic stress has a detrimental effect on your ability to learn and remember information. This is even truer for individuals who have, or are at greater risk for, mild cognitive impairment. In senior citizens, cortisol associated with chronic stress is associated with the development of dementia.

Health Risk #5: Stress Makes You More Likely to Gain Weight

Excess cortisol due to chronic stress may make people more likely to gain weight. One reason for this is that stressed people are more likely to overeat for a number of reasons. Being stressed makes it harder to stick to disciplined eating habits, as well as causing people to be more likely to indulge in “comfort food” that may temporarily alleviate the stress. Not only is this associated with weight gain, but cortisol is also associated with weight gain specifically in the abdominal area. Excess abdominal fat is known to be more of a health risk than fat stored in other areas of the body.

CHRONIC STRESS MANAGEMENT IN BOSTON

Holistic Medicine that Works: Five Relaxing Herbal Remedies

If you’re stressed out or having trouble sleeping in Mansfield, there are some easy-to-come-by herbs that may help you get into a calmer state of mind. Many herbal remedies with long histories of medicinal use have been scientifically investigated, revealing natural occurring compounds that give the plants their effects. These five herbal remedies are often used as holistic medicine treatments to soothe anxiety and to remedy mild to moderate insomnia. If you’re feeling stressed, a calming herbal tea that incorporates some of these ingredients may help you to feel more relaxed and better able to deal with the problems causing the stress.

#1: Valerian Root

Valerian root (Valeriana officinalis) is an effective holistic medicine remedy for sleeplessness and anxiety. If you live in the Mansfield area and you’re struggling with mild insomnia, valerian root might just do the trick. Valerian root contains certain natural chemical compounds, including valerenic acids and sesquiterpenoids that have affinities for GABA receptors in the brain. GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) is an important neurotransmitter. Benzodiazepines, a popular but troublesome class of prescription drugs used for anxiety and sometimes for insomnia, work via the same receptors. In addition to its sedative and anxiolytic effects, valerian also has some muscle relaxant qualities. Valerian root is often sold in capsules, and is also used as an herbal tea.

#2: Chamomile

Chamomile (Asteraceae family) is a tried-and-true holistic medicine remedy for relaxation. Chamomile contains numerous chemical compounds with medicinal effects, some of which act on GABA receptors. Chamomile also has anti-inflammatory effects and can soothe gastrointestinal discomfort. Chamomile tea is easy to find in Mansfield; you can usually find it at the grocery store.

#3: California Poppy

California poppy (Eschscholzia californica) is a flowering plant in the poppy family that is native to California. Historically, its leaves have been used by Native Americans for medicinal purposes. Although California poppy is related to opium poppy, it contains a different and much milder class of alkaloid chemicals. An aqueous extraction of the plant has sedative and anxiety-reducing qualities. In a study of the effects of California poppy extract on mice, it was shown to have affinities for the same receptors as benzodiazepines.

#4: Passionflower

Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata), also known as maypop, was first used medicinally by Native Americans and then later by European colonists. The fresh or dried leaves of this plant are often used to make a tea that soothes anxiety and insomnia. Many passionflower species, notably P. incarnata, contain a group of chemical compounds called beta-carboline harmala alkaloids. These chemicals function as MAO (monoamine oxidase) inhibitors, lending them antidepressant effects. Clinical investigations of the efficacy of passionflower for anxiety have produced promising results. In one study, P. incarnata extract worked as well as oxazepam, a benzodiazepine, but with fewer adverse side effects.

#5: Lemon Balm

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) contains compounds, notably rosmarinic acid that inhibits an enzyme called GABA transaminase. This results in reducing anxiety and sedative effects. Studies indicate that lemon balm extract reduces stress, as well as improves mood and even enhances mental performance. These effects are attributed to the plant’s effects on muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. 

NEUROFEEDBACK THERAPY IN BOSTON

Treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children

Treating Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Children with Family-Based Exposure Therapy 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a relatively common anxiety disorder. OCD is characterized primarily by intrusive thoughts (“obsessions”) that cause significant and overwhelming anxiety, which often causes the person to engage in certain repetitious behaviors (“compulsions”) to try to temporarily relieve that anxiety. Although obsessive-compulsive disorder in Mansfield and the Boston area is more commonly diagnosed in adolescents and adults, this condition can also occur in children. OCD in children is arguably more difficult to deal with than obsessive-compulsive disorder in adults, and children often do not respond as well to psychiatric medications. However, a recent study has found compelling evidence that one form of behavioral therapy, called “Family-Based Exposure Therapy”, may be a particularly effective approach to pediatric obsessive compulsive disorder treatment. 

How is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Diagnosed in Mansfield? 

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder in Mansfield is diagnosed, usually by a psychologist or psychiatrist, based on an accepted set of diagnostic criteria. The ICD-10 lists the following criteria for a diagnosis of obsessive-compulsive disorder:

A. Obsessions and Compulsions.

·         OBSESSIONS are defined as:
 1.) Recurrent and persistent thoughts, impulses, or images that are experienced at some time during the disturbance, are intrusive or inappropriate, and cause marked anxiety or distress.
2.) The obsessions are not exaggerated real-life worries
3.) The person attempts to ignore or suppress the obsessive thoughts, or to neutralize them with a different thought or action.
 4.) The person recognizes that obsessional thoughts arise within their own mind, rather than delusionally believing they have been “inserted” by an outside party

·         COMPULSIONS are defined as:
 1.) Repetitive behaviors or mental acts that a person feels driven to perform in response to an obsession, often according to rules that must be rigidly adhered to
2.) These behaviors or mental acts are aimed at preventing or reducing distress preventing a dreaded turn of events, BUT these behaviors are excessive or irrational and not connected to the thoughts and anxieties in a realistic way.

B. The person has recognized that the obsessions and compulsions are not reasonable or rational. (This does NOT apply to children.)

C. The obsessions and compulsions are distressing, time-consuming, and interfere with a person’s normal activities.

D. The obsessions and compulsions are not restricted to another comorbid disorder (such as generalized anxiety or major depression).

               

To diagnose a child in Mansfield with obsessive compulsive disorder, a psychiatrist or psychologist must rule out other possible diagnoses, including autism-spectrum disorders, attention deficit disorders, and other anxiety disorders. 

Family-Based Exposure Therapy: A Promising New OCD Treatment for Pediatric Patients 

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in children can be difficult to approach and treat. In Mansfield adults, SSRI medications are sometimes incorporated into treatment for obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although these medications can be effective for anxiety and depression in adults, however, they are not recommended for children. A better approach for treating obsessive compulsive disorder in children is to use behavioral therapies, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy or talk therapy.

Recently, a study conducted by the Bradley Hasbro Children’s Research Center has found that a technique called “family-based exposure therapy” was an especially effective approach for treating obsessive compulsive disorder in children between the ages of 5 and 8. Although CBT therapies have been well substantiated in adults and adolescents, there had previously been little research into their efficacy for young children.

Exposure therapy is often used to treat anxiety disorders in Mansfield, including obsessive-compulsive disorder. Exposure therapy is based on behavioral principles of “respondent conditioning”, famously discovered by Pavlov. This therapy approach aims to identify the thoughts and feelings leading to the anxiety response when a “trigger” is presented, and at reducing those responses though exposure to the stimulus. The “family-based” aspect refers to keeping the child’s family informed and involved in the treatment.

NEUROFEEDBACK FOR OCD

Holistic Medicine in Mansfield

Treating The Body as a Unified Whole

Holistic medicine is a field of alternative medicine that emphasizes the overall wellness of a person as a whole. Usually, medical problems are treated in isolation. The holistic health approach emphasizes the importance of the whole, rather than focusing exclusively on the part. All of the cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems of a human body work together to form the whole. If one part is not working correctly, it can affect the system in its entirety. Holistic medicine also emphasizes the importance of mental and spiritual wellness in ensuring and maintaining physical wellness.

Principles of Holistic Medicine

The American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA), the major American organization for practitioners of holistic medicine, has compiled a list of Principles of Holistic Medicine. These principles include:

·         Searching for the underlying cause of a disease is better than treating the symptoms alone.

·         What kind of patient has a disease is as important as what kind of disease the patient has.

·         Prevention is the best approach to treatment.

·         Illness is a manifestation of a dysfunction of a whole person, not just an isolated part of that person.

·         The quality of the relationship between a patient and healthcare provider is important to the outcome of treatment.

·         A physician-patient relationship should take into consideration the needs, desires, awareness, and insight of the patient, as well as the physician.

·         Physicians influence patients by their example.

·         Illness, pain, and the dying process can be learning opportunities for physicians and patients alike.

·         Holistic physicians encourage patients to embrace positive emotions and a positive outlook, and to let go of greed, anger, fear, and other forms of negativity.

·         Physicians should strive to practice unconditional love for themselves and their patients

·         Health is more than the absence of sickness. It is a pursuit of the highest qualities of physical, mental, spiritual, and environmental aspects of the human experience.

hOLISTIC MEDICINE IN MANSFIELD