Posts Tagged ‘stress’

Stress treatment

Friday, July 25th, 2008

Teethgrinding. Best treatment?

My partner grinds his teeth in his sleep which drives me insane. I know this condition can be related to stress so should he see a doctor or dentist? I’ve asked him about anything he could be worried about but he’s done this for years so has no idea what could be causing it.

I know you can buy mouth guards to help but he would prefer a treatment for the cause rather than the symptoms.

ANSWER

teethgrinding is a habit but can also be stress related or they could be anxious. there is no cure for teeth grinding sry. but there are ways of prevent it from occuring like going to an orthodontist who will look at his jaw because teethgrinding is the number one sysmptom of TMJ a jaw problem where your jaw joint can move from side to side and lock and also pop out of its joint many people experience these just thinking its a once off thing and ignore it to the point where they have done so much damage to the jaw joint that there can be very severe consequenses. the most common way to soothe teeth grinding is to wear a mouth guard which evenly dispatches the pain over the entire mouth and the guard also takes the pressure off so that the enamel isnt wrecked. then there is jaw surgery to fix the jaw harmony and there are many other ways but just go down to an orthodontist and they will help him (& u) with any problems you might have.

good luck

High Blood Pressure caused by stress: any drug-free treatment?

I regularly check my blood pressure and recently, my blood pressure has been at the range from Prehypertension to Stage 1 Hypertension. I had a detailed physical exam a couple of weeks ago, and the doctor said it had nothing to do with what I ate. Not to mention, I eat VERY healthy. I eat mostly fruits and vegetables, very little meat, and almost no junk food at all (I’m not overweight/obese) either.

People have told me to “watch my diet,” but as I’ve mentioned, I eat very healthy, and it has almost nothing to do with what I eat. So at this point, we are all assuming that my high blood pressure is caused by a series of stress from school, family, and friends–making it so I also lack sleep at the same time. I know “getting more sleep” is obviously a helpful treatment, but I’m looking for some more advice from health experts.

Is there any way I can treat this (i.e. meditation, more exercise, etc.)? Any other facts or advice related to high blood pressure are also welcome! Thank you!

ANSWER

Hmm….i know this may seem rude …but….is your body weight “high” or more importantly…is your body fat percentage “high”? One recomendation I have is fiber! Fiber is a great way to reduce BP. Women are suppossed to get around 17 grams a day. I too have high BP, mine is usually 130/70….which isnt good. I tend to worry alot. Flaxseed oil is also another great alternative or something else with high levels of Omega fatty acids. I just started taking them. Alot of people attribute to lower their BP with this method.

  You also may have a condition known as “White coat syndrome” it is a fancy term for “nervousness of doctors and hospitals.” Everytime I go to the doctors I get a little nervous.

Good luck

Is Homeopathy treatment effective for depression?

ANSWER

Yes, homeopathy has helped countless people naturally, safely, affordably and permanently heal from depression.

Homeopaths are not counselors, although our listening skills makes a client feel as deeply heard and received. Rather, we tease out “symptoms” in the sharing of your depression, and physical symptoms are part of the treatment. Symptoms to a homeopath go beyond those that people commonly associate with illness. We explore your food cravings, aversions and those that give you problems; the position in which you like to sleep; your weather and temperature preferences; your past and current health history; the history of your family’s health, as well as genetic predispositions; life situation events and stresses. Whether the underlying cause of your depression is childhood trauma, bereavement, an injury or accident, related to hormonal transitions - in treating the individual you uniquely are, hope and joy are certain to follow.

I’m a certified professional homeopath with a family practice for more than 25 years. In case you’re located in North America, the national directory for certified professional homeopaths is http://www.homeopathicdirectory.com.

Best wishes.

Is it possible to reverse the negative health effects that stress has had on the body?

ANSWER

Yes, but the sufferer must walk away from stressful situations even if it is a job.

Downsize the life, get rid of the TV, relax, go for walks and MEDITATE. Meditate on peaceful thoughts and your breathing. Close your eyes and clear your mind. Keep doing this over the weeks or months until you are able to do so without stressful thoughts.

Envision yourself as healthy and happy.

Your heart and body will recuperate.

Mind over matter.

What is the best way to relieve stress?

I work two jobs and feel really wound up at the moment, I dont get a lot of me time and would like to know what kind of exercise is best for it

ANSWER

Exercise like yoga or ti-chi is good for stress. It will help to loosen tense muscles and improve the energy flow through your body (stress can often lead to energy blockages and all the associated symtoms of stress).

A good relaxation exercise to do before you go to sleep at night or at the start of the day is:

lie on your back with your eyes closed.

imagine a warm golden light rising through your feet, slowly up through your legs to your root chakra (on your pelvic bone) You may see a gold light and feel the warmth

At each Chakra (root - pelvis, sacral - below naval, solar plexus - above naval) imagine the light, warmth and energy penetrating all of the muscles in the area.

When you reach the heart chakra (in your chest) imagine the warmth, light and energy flowing down your arms, then up to the throat chakra (over your throat) third eye chakra (brow) and crown chakra (top of your head) and connecting you with a divine or higher power.

The energy and light spills over and emcompasses you in an egg shape.

Then imagine a white light coming through your crown chakra down through your feet connecting you to the earth and grounding you.

The white and gold lights merge. Know that this energy is protecting you and is available for you to draw on at any time.

Which is the best natural medicine for stress ?

ANSWER

if you are a woman: Black Cohosh (available in all pharmacies in the Supplement/Vitamins section).

if you are a guy: work out.

Stress and health

Monday, July 21st, 2008

Effects of STRESS on Health :

Stress refers to the psychological and physiological response of our body to events that usually threatens our physical or emotional balance. A stressed out person would usually experience an increase in heart rate, palpitations and tensing of the body’s muscle.

While it is true that stress has become part of life, particularly now with our extremely fast-paced lifestyles, there are certain kinds of stress medical experts have considered as chronic stress. Chronic stress, or simply being distressed, is a long term physical and psychological condition where the responses of the body to stress last for a longer period of time and, on top of the various symptoms that have already been mentioned, the person would also become more sickly because the immune system is also affected, making them more susceptible to contract all sorts of illnesses and diseases. Other health conditions experienced by a person experiencing chronic stress are the following:

  • Headaches
  • Upset Stomach
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Chest Pains
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Eating Disorders
  • Allergies
  • Insomnia
  • Backaches
  • Colds
  • Fatigue
  • Although stress is a common phenomenon, it is considered by medical experts as a subjective phenomenon depending as to whether a particular event is considered by an individual as threatening or pleasurable. This is also the reason why one event can trigger various levels of stress towards different individuals. What makes diagnosing stress on a certain individual is that people react to stress differently. Some people might be more prone to having eating disorders as a response to stress while some might just simply experience severe headaches.

    Learning how to deal with stress is the best way to avoid the various health conditions brought about by this. Some suggested methods of coping with stress include meditation, relaxation and changing one’s daily routine.

    Hyperacidity

    Thursday, July 3rd, 2008

    Is “hyperacidity” a medical term.?

    i mean, is it used in diagnosing a patient.?

    do doctors use the term hyperacidity.?

    ANSWER :

    I don’t think so. My mind first went to “hyper-acidity” of the stomach. Gastric acid is hydrochloric acid & when there’s an excess, I believe it’s called hyperchlorhydria (not absolutely sure on that). Acidosis refers to increased acidity in the blood.

    What is the fastest way to get rid of hyperacidity?

    home made remedies are preferable. thanks

    ANSWER :

    Remedies for Hyperacidity and Heartburn:

    If you feel acid problem in your stomach then chew some basil leaves. Slowly suck a small piece of jaggery. Almonds are quite effective in treating heartburn; chew few almonds when you experience heartburn. A glass of chilled milk is a quick remedy for hyperacidity and heartburn. Ginger root with honey taken after meal is effective for treating heartburn.

    Diet for Hyperacidity and Heartburn:

    Fruits like apple, watermelon and banana are recommended for people with hyperacidity problem. Avoid fried food, pickle, hot and spicy food. Take your meals regularly on time, don’t skip them. Drink plenty of water. Avoid garlic, onion, pepper, radish and cabbage. Avoid unripe fruits. Do not haste while eating, always chew your food properly. Include plenty of green and leafy vegetables in your diet.

    Suggestions for Hyperacidity and Heartburn:

    To prevent acid reflux, maintain proper posture after your meal. Never go to bed or lie down immediately after a meal.

    What’s the cure for hyper acidity?

    ANSWER :

    When the stomach contains more hydrochloric acid than normal the condition is called hyperacidity. This excessive secretion may lead to ulcer in the stomach. Heartburn is caused when the gastric acid refluxes back to esophagus. Hyperacidity promotes heartburn, ulcers and reflux. There may be burning sensation or pain in the stomach after one to four hours of a meal. You may feel hungry frequently, usually after one or two hours of a meal. Heartburn may be experienced when you lie down. Belching, nausea, bitter taste in mouth, vomiting and loss of appetite are some other symptoms of hyperacidity. After a large meal, a constant pain may occur in the upper abdomen.

    Homeopathic remedies:

    · Iris Vers.: works well for persons having sour and bitter belching, and acidity causing sick headaches.

    · Nux Vomica: for persons having gastric derangement due to sedentary habits or over-eating, causing nausea and sour taste in mouth in the morning with bitter eructation. Flatulent distension of abdomen and spasmodic pain with upward pressure causing shortness of breath. Stomach is very sensitive. Sensation of weight in the stomach.

    · Natrum Phos: is made from sodium phosphate and is an excellent mineral for digestion. Especially suited to young children who have been fed too much sugar; and develop sour vomiting; greenish, sour, foul smelling diarrhea, with a creamy white coating at the back of the tongue. Used for upset stomach and sleeplessness due to indigestion.

    · Carbo Veg.: is best suited to patients with a slow and imperfect digestion, very offensive flatulence in upper part of the abdomen, and the patient feels better after discharge of gas or eructation.

    · Robinia: works well for acidity with frontal headache. Burning pains in stomach. Stools and discharges smell sour. Acid vomiting. Mainly used for acidity in children.

    Diet for Hyperacidity problem

    Fruits like apple, watermelon and banana are recommended for people with hyperacidity problem. Avoid fried food, pickle, hot and spicy food. Take your meals regularly on time, don’t skip them. Drink plenty of water. Avoid garlic, onion, pepper, radish and cabbage. Avoid unripe fruits. Do not haste while eating, always chew your food properly. Include plenty of green and leafy vegetables in your diet.

    Is there parmanent cure of hyperacidity?

    I am suffering from GERD. My dr. advised medicine which is a combination of rabeprazole & itopride. As long as medicine continues I’m fine. But soon after stopping the same the problem returns. Do I have to take medicine for life long? Plz intimate if there is any remedy. I expect suggestions from qualified persons only.

    ANSWER :

    Mine’s the same way. I’m assuming that I will take the medication forever but as long as it controls the problem, I’m good with that.

    Is ginger good for hyperacidity? is it safe to use for pregnant women?

    ANSWER :

    Ginger is safe to use during pregnancy, I use to take ginger root herbal pills for nausia and they really helped. I think it would also help with the hyperacidity too.

    Can I use pearl white slimming capsule eventhough I am having hyperacidity?

    I’m afraid to use because I don’t experienced any kind of slimming pills.

    ANSWER :

    in case you don’t know yet, most slimming pills are complete scams and do not work. Perhaps you should invest in some exercise instead, its much cheaper

    How to solve the Gastric problem?

    ANSWER :

    what kind of gastric problem? there’s lots of them.. is it an ulcer? hyperacidity.. try to be more specific.. there are different treatments on different problems..

    -edit-

    for hyperacidity.. okay.. first of all, you need to go to your doctor for a proper diagnosis.. if hyperacidity is diagnosed, the doc will give u a prescription for an antacid depending on the cause of hyperacidity..

    also… this tips could help:

    don’t drink too much coffee, and alcohol, don’t smoke, try to avoid stress.. as these can cause hyperacidity

    I have severe gastric problem, wen i get up in the morning i find my tommy is full of gas?

    ANSWER :

    Smoking should be stopped and alcohol consumption should be reduced.

    Meals should be small so that the stomach lining is not unduly stretched.

    Consumption of milk, coffee and aerated drinks must be reduced.

    Diet rich in fibre and Vitamin A is helpful in reducing the risk

    Fruits with their skins must be consumed.

    Exercise may also reduce the risk

    the drugs you can use are

    Chlordiazepoxide plus Clidinium bromide

    Omeprazole

    Roxatidine

    pls take expert advice before taking any of them

    Stomach ulcers?

    ANSWER :

    Hi Casey K, signs of a stomach ulcer can include nausea, loss of appetite, abdominal pain just beneath the ribcage, indigestion, vomiting, symptoms of anemia, weight loss, and blood present in vomit or bowel movements.

    If you experience these symptoms for any length of time, it is important to seek medical attention. These are not symptoms to be ignored.

    Stomach ulcers occur when there is a break in the tissue lining of the stomach. These ulcers normally occur in the stomach or the first part of the small intestine that leads out of the stomach, called the duodenum.

    Treatment options for stomach ulcers can consist of over the counter medications, prescription medications, modifying your diet, perhaps a lifestyle change that includes the addition of exercise and reduction of stress, and as a last result, surgery.

    Jason Homan

    How to get rid of excess gas produced in stomach ?

    i have hyperacidity. It gets more severe when i take oily foods….

    ANSWER :

    Try Beano.

    Hypertension

    Thursday, June 19th, 2008

    Whats the best medication for palmonary hypertension?

    Answer :

    pulmonary hypertension is treated with more than one medication because it is a result of more than one problem, this is something you need to decide in consultation with your doctor.

    What is the best anti-hypertension drug in this case and why?

    MR M.A is a healthy 36-year old obese male.his BP was found of 178/114 mmhg. He is a heavy smoker and drinks 10 or more units of alchohol each evening. He has a sedentary occupation.

    what anti hypertension agent coud be used in initial management of his hypertension?

    Answer :

    First thing is you cannot diagnose hypertension from a single reading. You need at least two more.

    If he does have hypertension, the first thing is he needs to stop drinking so much, exercise more, lose weight, and stop smoking. Lifestyle modifications always come first. you wouldn’t let a 300 pound person keep eating 4000 Cal. a day, why would you not counsel this patient to stop his destructive habits?

    All of the above answers are at least partially correct. a 36 year old with stage II hypertension should be evaluated for a secondary cause. If one is found then you treat based on that. a Pheochromocytoma would be treated with surgical resection and an alpha 1 and beta blocker. Renal artery stenosis would be treated medically with ACE inhibitors ro angiotensin receptor blockers if possible, otherwise surgical correction would be necessary

     Beta blockers and CCBs are no longer recommended as first line agents, he should be put on a or a thiazide diuretic, probably including an ACE-Inhibitor with that high of a blood pressure. If those don’t bring down the BP enough then a CCB or beta blocker would be added.

    Is atherosclerotic vascular disease caused by hypertension?

    my father recently passed of a heart attack. I just got the death certificate and it said hypertension which i know is high blood pressure and “atherosclerotic vascular disease” which I believe is hardening of the heart arteries. I assume the two are related diseases, in that one caused the other? anyone have any info? and can AVD be caused by inhaling harmful chemicals? like fumes on a job site or something?

    Answer :

    Atherosclerosis and hypertension are directly related as are kidney disease and retinal disease . In general diet and hypertension team up to cause the hardening ,the HBP by injuring the inside of the ateries and the fat compounds by depositing at the site of the injuries in thick cheesy linings w.hich calcify and restrict blood flow to the heart .

    Enviromental air pollution could cause lung ,liver kidney ,dermatological problems but not atherosclerosis

    What is the best natural remedy for Hypertension?

    I am 40 and have Hypertension for no known reason.

    For medication, the doctor gave me Diovian, and Norvasec. These seem to work well. I do get light headed sometimes after taking the Diovian.

    Then he gave me the Toprol XL. I started suffering from heartburn; sensitivity to bright lights, and light headedness. I could not sleep (nightmares). I’d get random erections when I was just idling (while driving, or watching TV)

    He reduced the Toprol XL, and things got a little more normal. I still could not sleep. So I started taking Melatonin (one when I got home, and one shortly before bed). I discovered my blood pressure went way down. Is this because I am sleeping better, or does the stuff really help my blood pressure?

    Melatonin is really cheap. Today I just take Diovian, Norvasec, Melatonin, and B vitamins. I have pretty much normal blood pressure all the time. Once in a while it goes up

    What works for you?

    Answer :

    Hypertensive people can remarkably reduce their blood pressure through nutritional changes. Increasing the amount of vegetables and fruit and reducing the amount of fat and cholesterol will not only reduce blood pressure but can help with weight loss, which also lowers blood pressure.

    Eat whole, fresh, unrefined, and unprocessed foods. Include fruits, vegetables, garlic, onion, whole grains, soy, beans, seeds, nuts, olive oil, and cold-water fish (salmon, tuna, sardines, halibut, and mackerel).

    Low sodium-high potassium diet. Most people are aware that reducing sodium (salt) intake can help reduce blood pressure. However, that may not be the whole picture. Restricting sodium intake to lower blood pressure appears to work better if accompanied by increasing potassium intake. Keep in mind that reducing sodium intake involves more than not using a salt shaker, but also reading processed and prepared food labels for the sodium content.

    Avoid salt, sugar, dairy products, refined foods, fried foods, junk foods, and caffeine.

    Eliminate food sensitivities. Use an elimination and challenge diet to determine food sensitivities.

    Drink 50% of your body weight in ounces of water daily (e.g., if you weigh 150 lbs, drink 75 oz of water daily).

    Hypertension???What are the symtoms???What are the causes???

    Answer :

    Hypertension can have no symptoms, that is why regular BP checks are so important. Causes are, but not limited to, obesity, too much sodium in the diet, heredity, kidney problems and anxiety.

    What are the predisposing factors of hypertension?

    Answer :

    Cholesterol comes from animal fat like meat, cheese, butter, cream & eggs. Too much cholesterol causes high blood pressure. Eat more vegetables instead.

    Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension due to CREST Scleroderma?

    Hi everyone, I was wondering if there is anyone out there that has or knows someone that has Pulmonary Hypertension due to CREST Scleroderma? My Mom has just been diagnosed with it, and she is currently on Revatio (20mg 3X’s a day), and she said that she doesn’t really feel any different, she has been on it for about 6 months. Is there any other medicines out there that other people have tried and have they worked for you? Please let me know by replying back to the message, and is there any forums or chatgroups that anyone might know about to talk with people that have this disease? Thanks everyone.

    Answer :

    okay well i know of one forum that is extremely helpful…

    www.roadback.org click on the community tab and then go to bulletin board. the website has to do with ap treatment and people recovering from diseases like ra and scleroderma through this treatment. i can atest to that(i have systemic scleroderma and have done very well on ap) poke around a bit and see if it might be something your mom would consider.

    Give adrenaline with caution if presenting with hypertension or hypovolemia..why?

    Im a student paramedic trying to learn my drugs…just some questions about adrenaline….Our indications for giving adrenaline pre-hospitally is: croup with life threatening airway compromise, anaphylaxis, asthma with imminent arrest, and cardiac arrest.

    Why is hypertension and hypovolemia a precaution for adrenaline? Please answer in as much detail as possible!!

    Thank you :)

    Answer :

    Adrenaline increases cardiac output by increasing both heart rate and cardiac contractility (beta-1 agonist effects). It also increases systemic vascular resistance (in both arteries and veins due to alpha-1 and alpha-2 agonist effects).

    In administering adrenaline to a hypertensive pt, you risk causing a hypertensive emergency that could manifest clinically in failure of one or more organ systems:

    CNS — ischemic stroke (r/t disrupted cerebral autoregulation), hypertensive encephalopathy, and (less commonly) acute intracerebral bleed

    CVS — left ventricular failure, myocardial ischemia (caused by increased myocardial oxygen demand), and acute MI

    RESP — acute pulmonary edema

    GU — acute renal ischemia (again r/t disruption of already taxed autoregulatory mechanisms)

    In a volume-depleted (”dry”) pt, administering adrenaline could cause extreme tachycardia (further exacerbating hypotension as the heart becomes less efficient (remember the Frank-Starling law … LVEDP lowers because of poor contractility, low stroke volume and zilch atrial kick)) … and some lethal dysrhythmias (esp. if the pt is hyperkalemic or has a low mag. or ICa++ level).

    Of course, as the poster “Fivemgmorphine” pointed out, these are things you need to know and keep in the back of your mind when pushing epi, but if your pt. is having an acute anaphylactic reaction or is otherwise crashing, giving the drug ASAP could literally save a life (it’s the drug of choice for bronchospasm, shock, and angioedema (here I mean swelling of the throat) in severe anaphylactic rxns).

    Is hypertension usually a family history?

    And nothing can prevent it if both of ur parents, ur grandparents suffered from it? True?

    Answer :

    Family history is one of the risk factors. The other risk factors that you cannot control are your age (over 65 is higher risk) and your ethnicity (those of South Asian, Black, Aboriginal, or Inuit descent have greater risk).

    The best course of action is to live a heart healthy lifestyle to minimize the other risk factors. This includes not smoking, being at a good body weight, eating a heart-healthy diet, exercising, etc.

    A website with great information about all of this is http://www.smart-heart-living.com/high-b… and the home page with links to all kinds of great resources at http://www.smart-heart-living.com/index….

    I hope this helps… good luck!

    How to take care of a hypertensive person?

    Answer :

    First, of course, is to follow the advice of your health care providers… doctor, nurse, rehab, etc.

    In general terms you need to ensure a proper diet and appropriate amount of physical activity.

    Cut back on salt… and be aware of all the “hidden” salt (sodium) that you’ll find in just about every packaged or processed food.

    Try to eat as much whole food (i.e., unprocessed) as you can.

    A good source of additional information can be found on http://www.smart-heart-living.com/high-b…

    Hope this helps… good luck!

    Heart Attack | Panick Attack | Stress

    Monday, March 24th, 2008

    Keyword : Heart Attack

    1. Dealing with a Heart Attack


    By Kevin Reilly | Date Submitted: 03/14/08
    Keywords: after heart attack,causes of heart attack,heart attack,heart attack age,heart attack for women,heart attack in women,heart attackMore Details about after heart attack here.Summary: This article is about people like me who have had a heart attack at a fairly young age (42) and how to deal with the issue related to it.



    Copyright (c) 2008 Kevin ReillyFor anyone who has suffered a heart attack, you’ll know how difficult it can be to get back on your feet. Not only do you have to make lifestyle changes to prevent the risk of another heart attack, there are emotional as well as physical demands on your body. It’s not just a matter of surviving a heart attack; it’s the effects a heart attack has on your life that can be just as big a problem.Depending on the severity of a heart attack, the options open to someone will be very different. A major heart attack will mean some huge changes to your current day-to-day routine, while a milder heart attack will offer a bit more leeway. However, any kind of heart attack is a serious warning about your overall health, and the need to make life changes to prevent one from happening again.Medical Aftercare One of the first things that will happen is that you will need to go for more regular check-ups at your doctor or family physician’s. Here you will get advice about how to reduce the chances of a follow-up heart attack - unfortunately, people who suffer a heart attack are 50% more likely to have another one within 12 months if they don’t make changes to their lifestyle.You’ll be encouraged to give up smoking if you haven’t already; what to eat, and what to avoid, will also be covered; and you may even have to go on a heart attack prevention course of medication. These can include drugs to control blood pressure, as well as anti-stress medication. Anything that controls the symptoms of a heart attack will be covered with your medical follow-up.Normal Activities Although you’ll probably want to get back to normal as quickly as possible, the very fact that you’ve suffered a heart attack will prevent this to some degree. Depending on the severity of the heart attack, it’s likely that you will be fine for walking after a week or so. However, other day-to-day activities such as sexual intercourse or driving may have to wait a few weeks more, to make sure there are no complications or follow-up chest pains.Changes to the Family Life Perhaps the biggest hurdle anyone that suffers a heart attack needs to overcome is the emotional and psychological effect it has. This isn’t just on you, either - your family and loved ones will have gotten just as big a scare as you by your heart attack. So it’s only natural that they may act differently around you - more refrained, for example.You need to ensure that they know that you realise it’s been a shock, but together you can ensure that it’s less likely to happen again. By getting everything in the open, and discussing the reasons for your heart attack, it will make sure that everyone is in a better position to help you prevent what caused the heart attack in the first place.Talking about it will also enable you to get back to normality quicker. One of the biggest problems after a heart attack is depression, and fear that you’ll suffer another heart attack. Having the love and support of your closest friends and family will help you through this difficult period, and hopefully prevent future symptoms or heart attacks from happening again.

    Author’s URL:

    none


    2. Panic Attack Self Help Can Be Quite Helpful


    By Sveinung Skoglund | Date Submitted: 03/12/08
    Keywords: panic attack self help, self help book and anxiety, panic attacks, HealthMore Details about panic attack self help here.Summary: Panic attacks are a variety of symptoms, both physical and emotional, that include sense of doom, heart attack, and breathing difficulty. The initial attack usually occurs in a specific situation. Additional panic attacks may occur at any time or pla


    The definition of a panic attack is a sudden rush of uncomfortable symptoms together with thoughts of impending doom such as making a scene, heart attack and the inability to breath. The first panic attack often takes place in a particular situation; other episodes are unpredictable as to time or place where they occur.Increased heart rate, dizziness or lightheadedness, shortness of breath, inability to concentrate and confusion can often be some of the uncomfortable symptoms that are present during a severe panic attack. Often times, the sufferer becomes afraid of being a helpless victim of panic after a few of these panic episodes.It is possible for the person in question to hesitate when faced with being alone, venturing too far from home, or being in public places. Even when not currently undergoing a panic attack, the victim will many times become extremely nervous and apprehensive regardless. The victim’s body remains physically and psychologically tense, in anticipation of the next attack.You will need self-help skills to overcome panic attacks. These skills can be learnt at the Panic Attack Self Help Program. This program teaches you how to deal with the worry about symptoms and also dealing with the symptoms themselves. This will help you venture into situations that you had avoided, with ease.There are medications available for panic attack self help. First, work with your doctor to take care of any medical condition that may be causing or increasing your problems. Obsessive-compulsive disorder may be present if you constantly have bothersome mental ideas or feel a need to repeat the same actions over and over again. A great number of people are afflicted with this disorder.Panic attacks can vary in severity, from simple worries about turning off the appliances before leaving home, to severe and crippling repetitive tasks that take up hours of your day. No matter the degree, panic attacks are upsetting and uncomfortable when they interrupt your life and can even destroy important personal relationships. Learning panic attack self help through books can become very helpful.Author’s URL:

    3. Stress management


    By Lakshman Balasubramanyam | Date Submitted: 09/22/05
    Keywords: Stress managementMore Details about Human Resource management Stess release here.Summary: Stress at work, stress management techniques, stress reduction and relief


    Stress at work, stress management techniques, stress reduction and reliefEmployers should provide a stress-free work environment, recognise where stress is becoming a problem for staff, and take action to reduce stress. Stress in the workplace reduces productivity, increases management pressures, and makes people ill in many ways, evidence of which is still increasing. Workplace stress affects the performance of the brain, including functions of work performance; memory, concentration, and learning. In the UK over 13 million working days are lost every year because of stress. Stress is believed to trigger 70% of visits to doctors, and 85% of serious illnesses (UK HSE stress statistics). Stress at work also provides a serious risk of litigation for all employers and organisations, carrying significant liabilities for damages, bad publicity and loss of reputation. Dealing with stress-related claims also consumes vast amounts of management time. So, there are clearly strong economic and financial reasons for organisations to manage and reduce stress at work, aside from the obvious humanitarian and ethical considerations. If you are suffering from stress yourself the stress management guidelines here are just as relevant.People most at risk from stressIn one US study as many as 40% of workers described their jobs as very stressful. While not a scientific gauge and not measuring serious stress health problems, this gives some indication as to how prevalent work-related stress is. As regards official health records, in the UK, the nursing and teaching occupations are most affected by work-related stress, with 2% of workers at any one time suffering from work-related stress, depression and anxiety. (The figure for teachers rises to 4% when including physical conditions relating to stress.) Care workers, managers and professionals are the next highest affected occupations, with over 1% suffering from serious work-related stress at any one time. UK HSE work-related stress statistics suggest that work-related stress affects men and women in equal numbers, and that people in the 45-retirement age suffer more than younger people. More socially-based USA research suggests that the following American social groups are more prone to stress (this therefore not limited to work-related stress): young adults, women, working mothers, less educated people, divorced or widowed people, the unemployed, isolated people, people without health insurance, city dwellers. Combined with the factors affecting stress susceptibility (detailed below), it’s not difficult to see that virtually no-one is immune from stress. An American poll found that 89% of respondents had experienced serious stress at some point in their lives. The threat from stress is perceived so strongly in Japan that the Japanese even have a word for sudden death due to overwork, ‘karoushi’.work-related stress trendsData is sparse and confused (stress statistics are also complicated by metal health reporting in the UK), but the statistics do indicate certain growth. In the UK HSE statistics indicate a doubling of reported clinical cases between 1990 and 1999. Working days lost per annum appear to have been about 6.5 million in the mid-1990’s, but rose to over 13 million by 2001. Greater awareness of the stress ailment in reporting no doubt accounts for some of this variance, but one thing’s for sure: the number of people suffering from work-related stress isn’t reducing.costs of stress

    UK HSE statistics suggest stress-related costs to UK employers in the region of £700m every year. The cost of stress to society is estimated at £7bn pa. (These figures were respectively £350m and £3.7bn in 1995/6 when total days lost were half present levels.)

    stress causes Stress is caused by various factors - not all of which are work-related of course, (which incidentally doesn’t reduce the employer’s obligation to protect against the causes of stress at work). Causes of stress - known as stressors - are in two categories: external stressors and internal stressors.

    External stressors - physical conditions such as heat or cold, stressful psychological environments such as working conditions and abusive relationships, eg., bullying.

    Internal stressors - physical ailments such as infection or inflammation, or psychological problems such as worrying about something.

    From the above, it is easy to see that work can be a source of both external and internal stressors.

    Stressors are also described as either short-term (acute) or long-term (chronic):

    Short-term ‘acute’ stress is the reaction to immediate threat, also known as the fight or flight response. This is when the primitive part of the brain and certain chemicals within the brain cause a reaction to potentially harmful stressors or warnings (just as if preparing the body to run away or defend itself), such as noise, over-crowding, danger, bullying or harassment, or even an imagined or recalled threatening experience. When the threat subsides the body returns to normal, which is called the ‘relaxation response’. (NB The relaxation response among people varies; ie., people recover from acute stress at different rates.)

    Long-term ‘chronic’ stressors are those pressures which are ongoing and continuous, when the urge to fight or flight has been suppressed. Examples of chronic stressors include: ongoing pressurised work, ongoing relationship problems, isolation, and persistent financial worries.

    The working environment can generate both acute and chronic stressors, but is more likely to be a source of chronic stressors.

    Stress effects on health and performance Stress is proven beyond doubt to make people ill, and evidence is increasing as to number of ailments and diseases caused by stress. Stress is now known to contribute to heart disease; it causes hypertension and high blood pressure, and impairs the immune system. Stress is also linked to strokes, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), ulcers, diabetes, muscle and joint pain, miscarriage during pregnancy, allergies, alopecia and even premature tooth loss.

    Various US studies have demonstrated that removing stress improves specific aspects of health: stress management was shown to be capable of reducing the risk of heart attack by up to 75% in people with heart disease; stress management techniques, along with methods for coping with anger, contributed to a reduction of high blood pressure, and; for chronic tension headache sufferers it was found that stress management techniques increased the effectiveness of prescribed drugs, and after six months actually equalled the effectiveness of anti-depressants. The clear implication for these ailments is that stress makes them worse.

    Stress significantly reduces brain functions such as memory, concentration, and learning, all of which are central to effective performance at work. Certain tests have shown up to 50% loss of performance in cognitive tests performed by stress sufferers. Some health effects caused by stress are reversible and the body and mind reverts to normal when the stress is relieved. Other health effects caused by stress are so serious that they are irreversible, and at worse are terminal.

    Stress is said by some to be a good thing, for themselves or others, that it promotes excitement and positive feelings. If these are the effects then it’s not stress as defined here. It’s the excitement and stimulus derived (by one who wants these feelings and can handle them) from working hard in a controlled and manageable way towards an achievable and realistic aim, which for sure can be very exciting, but it ain’t stress. Stress is bad for people and organisations, it’s a threat and a health risk, and it needs to be recognised and dealt with, not dismissed as something good, or welcomed as a badge of machismo - you might as well stick pins in your eyes.

    Causes of stress at work

    These are typical causes of stress at work:

    Bullying or harassment, by anyone, not necessarily a person’s manager Feeling powerless and uninvolved in determining one’s own responsibilities Continuous unreasonable performance demands Lack of effective communication and conflict resolution Lack of job security Long working hours Excessive time away from home and family Office politics and conflict among staff A feeling that one’s reward is not commensurate with one’s responsibility

    Factors influencing the effects of stress and stress susceptibility: A person’s susceptibility to stress can be affected by any or all of these factors, which means that everyone has a different tolerance to stressors. And in respect of certain of these factors, stress susceptibility is not fixed, so each person’s stress tolerance level changes over time:

    Childhood experience (abuse can increase stress susceptibility) Personality (certain personalities are more stress-prone than others) Genetics (particularly inherited ‘relaxation response’, connected with serotonin levels, the brain’s ‘well-being chemical’) Immunity abnormality (as might cause certain diseases such as arthritis and eczema, which weaken stress resilience) Lifestyle (principally poor diet and lack of exercise) Duration and intensity of stressors (obviously…)

    Signs of stress - stress test At a clinical level, stress in individuals can be be assessed scientifically by measuring the levels of two hormones produced by the adrenal glands: cortisol and DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone), but managers do not have ready access to these methods. Managers must therefore rely on other signs. Some of these are not exclusively due to stress, nor are they certain proof of stress, but they are indicators to prompt investigation as to whether stress is present. You can use this list of ten key stress indicators as a simple initial stress test: tick the factors applicable. How did I do?

    1. sleep difficulties 2. loss of appetite 3. poor concentration or poor memory retention 4. performance dip 5. uncharacteristic errors or missed deadlines 6. anger or tantrums 7. violent or anti-social behaviour 8. emotional outbursts 9. alcohol or drug abuse 10. nervous habits

    Methods of personal stress management and stress relief:

    If you are suffering from work-related stress and it’s beginning to affect, or already affecting your health, stop to think: why are you taking this risk with your body and mind? Life’s short enough as it is; illness is all around us; why make matters worse? Commit to change before one day change is forced upon you.

    If you recognise signs of stress in a staff member, especially if you are that person’s manager, don’t ignore it - do something about it. It is your duty to do so. If you do not feel capable of dealing with the situation, do not ignore it; you must refer it to someone who can deal with it. You must also look for signs of non-work-related stressors or factors that increase susceptibility to stress, because these will make a person more vulnerable to work-related stressors. These rules apply to yourself as well….

    Stress relief methods are many and various. There is no single remedy that applies to every person suffering from stress, and most solutions involve a combination of remedies. Successful stress management frequently relies on reducing stress susceptibility and removing the stressors, and often factors will be both contributing to susceptibility and a direct cause. Here are some simple pointers for reducing stress susceptibility and stress itself, for yourself or to help others:

    Stress relief pointers Think really seriously about and talk with others, to identify the causes of the stress and take steps to remove, reduce them or remove yourself (the stressed person) from the situation that causes the stress. Understand the type(s) of stressors affecting you (or the stressed person), and the contributors to the stress susceptibility - knowing what you’re dealing with is essential to developing the stress management approach. Improve diet - group B vitamins and magnesium are important, but potentially so are all the other vitamins and minerals: a balanced healthy diet is essential. Assess the current diet and identify where improvements should be made and commit to those improvements. Reduce toxin intake - obviously tobacco, alcohol especially - they might seem to Provide temporary relief but they are working against the balance of the body and contributing to stress susceptibility, and therefore increasing stress itself. Take more exercise - generally, and at times when feeling very stressed - exercise burns up adrenaline and produces helpful chemicals and positive feelings. Stressed people must try to be detached, step back, look from the outside at the issues that cause the stress. Don’t try to control things that are uncontrollable - instead adjust response, adapt. Share worries - talk to someone else - off-load, loneliness is a big ally of stress, so Sharing the burden is essential. increase self-awareness of personal moods and feelings - anticipate and take steps to avoid stress build-up before it becomes more serious. explore and use relaxation methods - they do work if given a chance - yoga, meditation, self-hypnosis, massage, a breath of fresh air, anything that works and can be done in the particular situation. Note also that managing stress does not cure medical problems. Relieving stress can alleviate and speed recovery from certain illnesses, particularly those caused by stress, (which depending on circumstances can disappear when the stress is relieved); ie., relieving stress is not a substitute for conventional treatments of illness, disease and injury.

    Importantly, if the stress is causing serious health effects the sufferer must consult a doctor. Do not imagine that things will improve by soldiering on, or hoping that the sufferer will somehow become more resilient; things can and probably will get worse.

    For less serious forms of stress, simply identify the cause(s) of stress, then to commit/agree to removing the cause(s). If appropriate this may involve removing the person from the situation that is causing the stress. Counselling may be necessary to identify the cause(s), particularly if the sufferer has any tendency to deny or ignore the stress problem.

    Acceptance, cognisance and commitment on the part of the stressed person are essential. No-one can begin to manage their stress if they are still feeling acutely stressed - they’ll still be in ‘fight or flight’ mode. This is why a manager accused of causing stress though bullying or harassment must never be expected to resolve the problem. The situation must be handled by someone who will not perpetuate the stressful influence.

    Removing the stressor(s) or the person from the stressful situation is only part of the solution; look also at the factors which affect stress susceptibility: where possible try to improve the factors that could be contributing to stress vulnerability. This particularly and frequently involves diet and exercise.

    The two simplest ways to reduce stress susceptibility, and in many situations alleviate stress itself (although not removing the direct causes of stress itself) are available to everyone, cost nothing, and are guaranteed to produce virtually immediate improvements. They are diet and exercise.

    Diet It’s widely accepted that nutritional deficiency impairs the health of the body, and it’s unrealistic not to expect the brain to be affected as well by poor diet. If the brain is affected, so are our thoughts, feelings and behaviour.

    We know that certain vitamins and minerals are required to ensure healthy brain and neurological functionality. We know also that certain deficiencies relate directly to specific brain and nervous system weaknesses: The Vitamin B Group is particularly relevant to the brain, depression and stress susceptibility. Vitamin B1 deficiency is associated with depression, nervous system weakness and dementia. B2 deficiency is associated with nervous system disorders and depression. B3 is essential for protein synthesis, including the neurotransmitter serotonin, which is necessary for maintaining a healthy nervous system. Vitamin B6 is essential for neurotransmitter synthesis and maintaining healthy nervous system; B6 deficiency is associated with depression and dementia. B12 deficiency is associated with peripheral nerve degeneration, dementia, and depression.

    Vitamin C is essential to protect against stress too: it maintains a healthy immune system, which is important for reducing stress susceptibility (we are more likely to suffer from stress when we are ill, and we are more prone to illness when our immune system is weak). Vitamin C speeds healing, which contributes to reducing stress susceptibility. Vitamin C is associate with improving post-traumatic stress disorders and chronic infections.

    A 2003 UK 18 month study into violent and anti-social behaviour at a youth offenders institution provided remarkable evidence as to the link between diet and stress: Around 230 inmate volunteers were divided into two groups. Half were given a daily vitamin/fatty acid/mineral supplement; half were given a placebo. The group given the supplement showed a 25% reduction in recorded offences, and a 40% reduction in serious cases including violence towards others, behaviours that are directly attributable to stress.

    Vitamin D helps maintain healthy body condition, particularly bones and speed of fracture healing, which are directly linked to stress susceptibility.

    Adequate intake of minerals are also essential for a healthy body and brain, and so for reducing stress susceptibility.

    A proper balanced diet is clearly essential, both to avoid direct physical stress causes via brain and nervous system, and to reduce stress susceptibility resulting from poor health and condition. Toxins such as alcohol, tobacco smoke, excessive salt, steroids, other drugs and other pollutants work against the balance between minerals, vitamins mind and body. Obviously then, excessive toxins from these sources will increase stress susceptibility and stress itself. (Useful information about salt and steroids.)

    Some other simple (and to some, surprising) points about food, drink and diet:

    Processed foods are not as good for you as fresh natural foods. Look at all the chemicals listed on the packaging to see what you are putting into your body. Generally speaking, and contrary to popular opinion, butter is better for you than margarine. This is because the fat in butter is natural and can be converted by the body more easily than the hydrogenated fat that occurs commonly in margarines. Fresh fruit and vegetables are good for you. Simple and true. Fish is good for you, especially oily fish like mackerel. Battered fish from the chip shop, cooked in hydrogenated cooking oil is not so good for you. Canned baked beans often have extremely high salt and sugar content. The beans are good for you, but the sauce isn’t if it contains too much salt and sugar. Look at the contents on the label. Canned and bottled fizzy ‘pop’ drinks are generally very bad for you. They contain various chemicals, including aspartame, which has been linked in several studies with nervous system disorders. Many squashes and cordials also contain aspartame. Too much coffee is bad for you. Interestingly expresso coffee contains less caffeine than filter and instant coffee, because it passes through the coffee grounds more quickly. Tea is good for you. Especially green tea. Pills and tablets are not good for you, avoid them if you can. For example, next time you have a headache, don’t take tablets, go for a run, or a walk in the fresh air to relax naturally. The rule is simple and inescapable: eat and drink healthily, and avoid excessive intake of toxins, to reduce stress susceptibility and stress itself. If you are suffering from stress and not obeying this simple rule you will continue to have be stressed, and moreover you will maintain a higher susceptibility to stress.

    Irrespective of your tastes, it’s easy these days to have a balanced healthy diet if you want to - the challenge isn’t in knowing what’s good and bad, it’s simple a matter of commitment and personal resolve. You have one body for the whole of your life - look after it.

    Exercise Physical exercise is immensely beneficial in managing stress. This is for several reasons:

    Exercise releases helpful chemicals in our brain and body that are good for us. Exercise distracts us from the causes of stress. Exercise warms and relaxes cold, tight muscles and tissues which contribute to stress feelings. Exercise develops and maintains a healthy body which directly reduces stress susceptibility. Exercise increases blood flow to the brain which is good for us. Exercises also releases hormones, and stimulates the nervous system in ways that are good for us. Exercise produces chemicals in the body such as beta-endorphin, which is proven to have a positive effect on how we feel. For many people, serious exercise produces a kind of ‘high’. (It’s arguable that it has this effect on everyone, but not since so many people never get to do any serious exercise they’ll never know…….). Scientists still don’t fully understand how exactly these effects happen, but we do know that exercise produces powerful feelings of well-being and a physical glow, both of which directly reduce stress feelings.

    Exercise of all types (muscle-building and stamina-building) relaxes tense muscles and tight connective tissues in the body, which directly contribute to stress feelings and symptoms (particularly headaches). Try this next time you get a stress headache - one that comes up the back of your neck into the back of your head: stand up, leave whatever you are doing, walk outside, take a few deep breaths, roll your shoulders backwards gently, slowly at first, then gradually speed up to about one rotation per second and keep it going for one minute. You can actually feel your shoulders warming and loosening, then feel your neck muscles warming up and relaxing, and then feel the relaxing feel beginning to take the edge of the pain in the back of your head. And that’s after just sixty seconds of exercise! Imagine what 15 minutes brisk walking or jogging can do. Ask anyone who’s just finished a game of tennis or squash or soccer if they feel at all stressed. Of course they don’t. It’s actually impossible to stay stressed if you do a serious bit of exercise.

    Exercise is wonderfully distracting - especially something very competitive which makes you push yourself further than you might do by yourself. When your body is involved with exercise it’s very absorbing - it’s actually very difficult to think about your problems when you are puffing and panting. Something terrific happens to the brain when the body works out, especially aerobic exercise - cardiovascular exercise that gets the heart pumping.

    We all evolved over millions of years with bodies that were built to exercise, it’s no wonder that avoiding it creates all kinds of tensions.

    Exercise, like a better diet, isn’t difficult to adopt - the answer is simple, the opportunity is there - it’s the personal commitment that make the difference.

    And a final point about ‘anger management’….

    Anger management and stress The term ‘anger management’ is widely use now as if the subject stands alone. However, ‘anger management’ is simply an aspect of managing stress, since anger in the workplace is a symptom of stress. Anger is often stress in denial, and as such is best approached via one-to-one counselling. Training courses can convey anger management and stress reduction theory and ideas, but one-to-one counselling is necessary to turn theory into practice. Management of anger (and any other unreasonable emotional behaviour for that matter) and the stress that causes it, can only be improved if the person wants to change - acceptance, cognisance, commitment - so awareness is the first requirement. Some angry people take pride in their anger and don’t want to change; others fail to appreciate the effect on self and others. Without a commitment to change there’s not a lot that a manager or employer can do to help; anger management is only possible when the angry person accepts and commits to the need to change.

    A big factor in persuading someone of the need to commit to change is to look objectively and sensitively with the other person at the consequences (for themselves and others) of their anger. Often angry people are in denial (”my temper is okay, people understand it’s just me and my moods….”), so removing this denial is essential. Helping angry people to realise that their behaviour is destructive and negative is an important first step. Discuss the effects on their health and their family. Get the person to see things from outside themselves.

    As with stress, the next anger management step is for the angry person to understand the cause of their angry tendency, which will be a combination of stressors and stress susceptibility factors. Angry people need help in gaining this understanding - the counsellor often won’t know the reason either until rapport is established. If the problem is a temporary tendency then short-term acute stress may be the direct cause. Use one-to-one counselling to discover the causes and then agree necessary action to deal with them. Where the anger is persistent, frequent and ongoing, long-term chronic stress is more likely to be the cause. Again, counselling is required to get to the root causes. Exposing these issues can be very difficult, so great sensitivity is required. The counsellor may need several sessions in order to build sufficient trust and rapport.

    The situation must be referred to a suitably qualified person whenever necessary, ie when the counsellor is unable to establish a rapport, analyse the causes, or agree a way forward. In any event if you spot the need for anger management in a person be aware that serious anger, and especially violence, is a clinical problem and so must be referred to a suitably qualified advisor or support group - under no circumstances attempt to deal with seriously or violently angry people via workplace counselling; these cases require expert professional help.

    Establishing commitment to change and identifying the causes is sufficient for many people to make changes and improve - the will to change, combined with awareness of causes, then leads to a solution.

    lakshman@lbdh.co.uk

    Author’s URL: http://www.lbdh.co.uk

    Dr. L Balasubramanyam is a Senior Consultant. He has a doctorate in Dynamic Simulation Modelling for Staffing in projects and Companies. He is also a keen researcher in the Use of Fine chemicals and natural extracts for various industries and contributes articles. He has been instrumental in setting up start up organisations in the Systems Integration field for services and has vast experience in handling issues of trust and public affairs. Dr. Balasubramanyam also is a Sr. Human Resources Professional practising the science and management of HR over the last 10 years and is now writing on the subject for very many publications.