The Hidden Link Between Adrenaline and Stress

We misunderstand the nature of stress, despite the fact that we have been deluged in recent years with books and magazine articles on the subject. We have been inundated with information about what to eat, whom to avoid, how to exercise. . . .

But what we have not heard clearly enough is that the essence of stress damage lies not so much in the problems of life, but in our attitude toward time and the excitement and pleasure we derive from interesting challenges and demanding schedules. The stress response is a natural form of arousal. In moderation, it is healthy--even necessary. But continuous over arousal leads to stress disease--and it doesn't matter whether this is the consequence of overwork, unhappiness, or plain, old-fashioned excitement.

Such long-term over arousal and excessive flow of those hormones associated with stress will eventually lead to physiological and psychological distress, and the leader among these hormones is adrenaline. Recent research has made it very clear that hyper arousal of the adrenal system is the essential causative factor in coronary and artery disease, the most serious form of stress damage . . .

UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF STRESS

We live within a body that responds to stress . . . in a world that produces it. The potential for stress is all about us--in our friends, family, work, in every part of life. Our bodies are intricately designed to respond to stress in such a way as to help us cope with it, at least initially.

Each of us is equipped with a highly sophisticated defense system designed to help protect against threats that would destroy us and to help us cope with those events that would challenge us. This stress response is comprised of a complex array of hormones and instinctive responses that ensures our survival. . . .

The greatest misunderstanding anyone can have about stress is that it is produced only by the unpleasant experiences of life. Many people risk unnecessary stress damage because they believe that only major catastrophes or prolonged conflict produces stress disease. Not true! Most of the men I know (and now increasingly women) who have developed heart disease did not complain of their life circumstances. In fact, they rather enjoyed them! . . .

Anything--pleasant or unpleasant--that arouses your adrenaline system for too long and mobilizes your body for 'flight or flight' predisposes you to stress disease. Your body simply adapts to living in a constant state of emergency--and you feel no discomfort until damaging results occur. . . .

HOW STRESS DOES ITS DAMAGE

The heart is a remarkable organ. It stands at the very core of life, and its beat is central to survival. Believe it or not, every day the heart pumps about two thousand gallons of blood through sixty thousand miles of elastic tubing. But the heart is no mere pump. . . .

The heart is actually an incredible intelligent organ. When you walk up a flight of stairs, when you get nervous or excited, or when someone scares you, your heart immediately responds with changes in rate, force, and contraction. . . .

It also responds with changes when you become fearful or fall in love! Its rate, force, and contraction all respond with amazing sensitivity to what is needed in the moment. No dumb pump, this is a genius organ of the body around which all life revolves. . . .

How does the heart know what to do? It has no direct connection to the nervous system to receive signals from the brain. . . . Rather, it is designed to respond to signals from the complex chemical messengers that circulate in the blood--including the adrenaline hormones. Unfortunately, it is this sensitivity to chemical messengers, the genius of the heart's operations, that carries with it risks as well as advantages. Over a period of time, when out of balance, these same messengers can literally destroy the heart. . . .

Besides the mobilizing of our body for flight, the chronic increased flow of adrenaline produces a number of other less helpful and more serious consequences.

These include:

• An increase in the production of blood cholesterol

• A narrowing of the capillaries and other blood vessels that can shut down the blood supply to   the heart muscle.

• A decrease in the body's ability to remove cholesterol

• An increase in the blood's tendency to clot

• An increase in the depositing of plaque on the walls of the arteries

In short bursts, elevated adrenaline is not damaging or dangerous. In fact, that is what it is designed to do. But when sustained at high levels over a period of time, it can be very harmful. Adrenaline arousal can be compared to revving up a car engine, then leaving it to idle at high speed. . . .The most serious effect of elevated adrenaline, when persistent and unrelenting, is its damage to the heart and arteries.

A HURRY SICKNESS

THE TYPE-A PERSONALITY

The idea that there is a particular type of personality that is more prone to experience distress is not widely accepted although, of course, it must be recognized that not everybody can be put into a simple two-box category. In fact, most people are really a mixture of many characteristics. But for our purposes, it can be helpful to think of ourselves as fitting into one category or the other. No doubt you have heard many references to these personality categories--'Type A' and 'Type B' . . .

TYPE-A BEHAVIOR PATTERN TEST:

Read each question carefully and give yourself a score according to the following descriptions:

Score Description

0 This statement does not apply to me

1 It sometimes applies to me (less than once a month)

2 It often applies to me (more than once a month)

Statement

1. I feel like there isn't enough time in each day to do all the things I need to do. _____

2. I tend to speak faster than other people, even finishing their sentences for them. _____

3. My spouse or friends say, or I believe, that I eat too quickly. _____

4. I would rather win than lose a game. _____

5. I am very competitive in work, sports, or games. _____

6. I tend to be bossy and dominate others. _____

7. I prefer to lead rather than follow. _____

8. I feel pressed for time even when I am not doing something important. _____

9. I become impatient when I have to wait for something or when interrupted. _____

10. I tend to make decisions quickly, even impulsively. _____

11. I take on more than I can accomplish. _____

12. I become irritable more often than most other people. _____

Now total your score: _____

ANALYZING YOUR SCORE

* If your total score is less than 5, you are definitely not a Type-A person. You may occasionally slip into Type-A behavior, but not often enough for it to be a problem.

* From 6 to 10, you are beginning to show occasional signs of Type-A behavior. You may have a temporary irritation in your life or some aspect of your work is getting to you. You are approaching the Type A behavior pattern as you get nearer the upper end of this score. You may be a mixture of Type A and Type B.

* From 11 to 16, you are definitely a Type-A person. At the higher end of this score, you are becoming prone to excessive adrenaline recruitment and are likely to be evidencing signs of distress.

* Above 17, not only are you a Type-A person but you are living dangerously. Life may be miserable for you but it can also be very exciting. Either way, you are prone to develop cardiovascular deterioration if you do not change your behavior pattern. If you smoke or have any of the other high risk factors (diabetes, high blood pressure, or family history of heart disease), I advise you to seek professional help.

THE PENALTY FOR TYPE-A TENDENCIES

There are some good things about being a Type-A person. People with this personality type accomplish a lot. They get things done. And often their sense of hurry comes from caring deeply about and feeling responsible for the world around them.

But there is a physical penalty to be paid for being a predominantly Type-A person. Type-A people recruit very much more adrenaline than Type B. And research has shown that Type-A men have three times the incidence of heart disease as Type-B men. This is rapidly becoming true of women, also, as they move into more competitive lifestyles...

What is important to remember is that the stress hormones, including adrenaline, are always found in excessive amounts in these individuals. Type-A behavior patterns and higher levels of adrenaline are lifelong partners . . .

HURRY SICKNESS IS A TWENTIETH-CENTURY DISEASE

A large part of the damage we experience in our lives is caused by 'hurry sickness.' It comes from our urge to live and do everything in haste. As a consequence, we live at a pace too fast for our bodies. This hurried lifestyle creates a persistent internal state of emergency that keeps our stress hormones elevated . . .

Type-A persons constantly struggle against time. They hate to 'waste time' eating, having a haircut, or sitting in the park. They hate waiting in line and are always active, restless, moving, doing things. And Type-A people pay for their sense of time urgency in increased circulation of adrenaline and consequent stress damage.

There's another aspect to hurry sickness that transcends basic tendencies and personality types. Hurriedness has become a distinguishing characteristic of the age we live in. Life has quite literally 'speeded up' . . . Type A's and B's alike are coming under the influence of a technologically accelerating world. They are constantly being bombarded by demands to do more and more . . . faster and faster. Expanding opportunities and enhanced communication also mean constant stimulation and demand . . .

HOW TO TURN BAD STRESS INTO GOOD STRESS

It would be unfair for me to suggest that all challenge, change, excitement, and fervor for work or play is bad and should be avoided. True, it is stressful--but it is not my intention to paint change as all bad, nor would it be a completely accurate picture.

Life is to be lived--and lived to the fullest. To be highly motivated to accomplish some task and able to work with enthusiasm is a great blessing . . .

Nothing worthwhile can be accomplished without some arousal of the stress response system. It is a biological law that we must work, and even fight, to accomplish a worthwhile goal. Challenge and fulfillment are important to health and well-being. The lack of it causes us to atrophy in body and mind. But--and this point is crucial to my whole argument--challenge and stress must be accompanied by, and work in harmony with, RELAXATION AND REST . . .

One great lesson I am learning is that the way we travel through life is ours to choose. . . . To be caught up with the demands of modern-day life without ever slowing down is disastrous. Hitting each day at supersonic speed without ever taking time to slow down will burn out our body engines.

STRESS AND ANXIETY

One form of anxiety, called panic anxiety disorder, is the most frightening of all and is showing a dramatic increase in recent years, especially among women . . . it is the panic form of anxiety that is most linked to stress as a cause. .. . Usually there has been no previous sign of anxious tendency. The attacks come on suddenly after years of successful living-but also high-stress living."

Stress can affect the brain; heart; stomach; muscles; hands and skin; lungs and respiratory system, and can even cause "feelings of 'trembling,' fear of impending doom, inability to sit for very long, squirming and fidgeting, foot-tapping, pacing, feelings of fatigue, lack of energy or heaviness, heightening irritability and anger, racing thoughts, daydreaming, indecisiveness, and sleep disruptions. Medication isn't the answer.

ARE YOU AN ADRENALINE ADDICT?

It is actually possible for us to become addicted to our own adrenaline! We can get hooked on the pleasurable 'high' that comes from the working of the body's own defense system! Both psychological dependence on the excitement of adrenaline arousal, as well as physical addiction to the hormone, can be involved. And this addiction can powerfully control our actions and emotions.

Workaholism is Adrenaline Addiction!!!

Adrenaline and Cholesterol

This topic is especially important because it shows how adrenaline affects the cardiovascular system. Report after report in both popular and professional literature has blamed cholesterol for the rampaging coronary artery disease of our day. But these reports almost totally ignore the role of adrenaline arousal in elevating cholesterol, , , ,

What is cholesterol, anyway? Is it a poison? The way we speak of it, you would swear it was toxic. Should it be totally eliminated from our bodies? The answer is 'No.' We probably wouldn't survive many crises without it. Cholesterol is not in our bodies by accident, but serves an important function in our survival.

Although it has the connotation of being something harmful, cholesterol-like adrenaline-has a positive function in our bodies. In fact, it is indispensable for the maintenance of the body. Its main function is to contribute to the building up of cell membranes. It also serves as the basis for bile acids in the liver and for certain hormones.

Eighty to 90 percent of the body's total cholesterol is manufactured by the liver. The rest we get from the foods we eat. Cholesterol is a soapy substance not soluble in water, which is where all the trouble starts. To become soluble so as to circulate through the bloodstream, it connects up with protein molecules to form compounds called lipoproteins. There are two different forms of lipoproteins with different ratios of protein to cholesterol. There are high-density lipoproteins (called simply HDLs) and low-density ones (LDLs). And the difference is crucial, because research has shown that it is the LDLs that tend to increase the risk for heart disease, while HDLs lower the risk. One other thing research has indicated is that higher circulating adrenaline seems to increase the amount of LDLs in the bloodstream-so now you can see the dangerous connection between adrenaline and cholesterol! . . .

I believe that much of the current literature concerning cholesterol and heart disease fails to take into consideration the close connection between high cholesterol, stress, and adrenaline arousal. This, in my opinion, is the missing link often ignored when it comes to preventing heart disease.

An increase in circulating cholesterol during stress is part of the body's reaction to threatening stimuli. Coupled with this elevation, or perhaps resulting from it, is a corresponding elevation of adrenaline. The rise in cholesterol and adrenaline levels raises blood pressure. . .There is abundant evidence that stress raises cholesterol levels. . . .

OK, so now you know what causes Adrenaline to be produced, that is Stress, and that Stress also causes High Cholesterol, and all kinds of other body failures.

So how do we treat this dis-ease? What do we do? Firstly, we need to slow down a little. Take the time to go to the zoo or to a botanical garden. Take a drive in the country, go to a farmer's market. Anything that is close to nature, and enjoyable to you. Go to an apple orchard if it is fall, and ask to pick your own! Nutrition, proper Supplements give you the building blocks to eliminate Stress.

Depression and Anger Lower Male Potency……..

Depression and Anger Affect the Immune System......................

For older men, feelings of depression may weaken the immune system, new research suggests. And anger seems to have a similar effect in both men and women caring for a spouse with Alzheimer's disease.

People have traditionally looked at depression and stress with a one-size-fits-all mentality. This view suggests that all stressors will apply equally to all people. But there are certain groups, such as older men and caregivers, who are more vulnerable to stress and depression.

The researchers studied the relationship between anger, depressed feelings and the immune system in 82 elderly individuals who cared for a spouse with Alzheimer's disease. Caregivers were compared with a "control" group of 83 married non-caregivers who were matched for age and sex.

At the start of the study and 18 months later, the investigators evaluated the participants' physical and psychological health, as well as their physical activity. Investigators also measured how vigorously participants' immune systems responded to substances that trigger the activation of cells called lymphocytes.

In men, feelings of depression were linked to a diminished immune response. Most of the depressed feelings of men in the study arose not from actual clinical depression but from feelings of loneliness, the report indicates. Older men may be more reluctant to talk about their problems and tend to have fewer friends than older women.

Care giving is not a traditional male role, which may affect how men cope with this responsibility. Some research has suggested that men's bodies are better equipped for dealing with short-term challenges than long-term challenges. Men typically experience bursts of stress hormones when faced with a challenge, but this type of response may not be effective for dealing with chronic sources of stress, such as care giving.

Although the relationship between depressed mood and immunity differed by gender, higher levels of anger were linked to reduced immune function at the end of the study in both male and female caregivers. The combination of anger and chronic stress can result in reduced immune function.

It is my clinical experience that unresolved stress is one of the most common reasons contributing to disease and sickness.

Here are the best Stress reducing products that I know of:

• Get them all now, so you will be prepared to deal with your Stressors when they arise.

• Have them in a special medicine cabinet to keep at your fingertips when you need them.

Index Knobber II  The Original Index Knobber II ® is the second edition to our newest generation of colorful, molded, hand-held massage tools. Therapists' Choice . . . The Original Index Knobber II® was developed as a device to be used by practicing, hands-on therapists. Therapists who use The Original Index Knobber II ® in treating patients find it extremely helpful in applying precise pressure to soft tissue trigger points. It also reduces overuse injury to the therapists' hands brought on by the stress of hands-on deep muscle massage, trigger point compression and similar techniques. Like The Original Jacknobber II®, the soft shape and smooth feel of The Original Index Knobber II® and its unique, ergonomic design, allows its use over clothing or with massage oil directly on the skin. "

Still Point Inducer  Relaxing relief from stress and pain. A technique used by osteopathic physicians for almost a century to enhance the movement of body fluids.

MITOCHONDRIAL RESUSCITATE ™   Nutritional Support for Mitochondrial Energy Production
Mitochondrial Resuscitate is designed to provide nutritional support for the proper functioning of mitochondria -- the energy powerhouses of the cell. This exciting formula is composed of nutrients, both essential and accessory, which help provide resistance to oxidative stress and support mitochondrial energy production via oxidative phosphorylation.
60 Capsule Bottle

LICORICE PLUS ™  Rehmannia & Yam Decoction
Licorice Plus is a specially designed herbal adrenal support formula that features standardized extracts of licorice and ashwagandha combined with a decoction of rehmannia and Chinese yam. Proper adrenal function is associated with a healthy physiological response to stress, a healthy immune response, and vitality.
60 Tablet Bottle
Suitable for Vegetarians

SERENAGEN ™ "Herbal Stress Formula
Schizandra & Scrophularia
Serenegan (formerly TCB 3) is a classic, comprehensive herbal stress formula that has been used throughout China since"

PhysioLogics Liposomal Glutathione  "PhysioLogics' new Glutathione LipoSpray offers an easy, convenient way to boost glutathione levels in the body. Glutathione is one of the body's most important antioxidants. It protects cells from free radical damage, particularly free radicals that are produced naturally by the body's own detoxification process. It can also neutralize free radicals produced by stress, exercise, and cigarette smoking. PhysioLogics' new Glutathione LipoSpray is absorbed more quickly than other delivery systems. 80 sprays 25 mg"

PhysioLogics L–Glutamine  "L-Glutamine is the most widely used amino acid and constitutes more than 20% of all the amino acid levels in the body. While it is the most prevalent amino, it is considered to be 'conditionally essential,' meaning that stress or excessive exercise can create a need for more of it than the body can provide.L-Glutamine has numerous functions within the body. It supports a healthy immune system and intestinal tract, because it is the primary energy source for these rapidly proliferating cells. It also helps maximize gastrointestinal health by nourishing and strengthening the mucosal lining of the intestines. 90 caps 500 mg"

PhysioLogics RejuVeinate™  "A compromised vascular system can sometimes produce unsightly outward signs that warn of a system under stress.

PhysioLogics Siberian Ginseng  "Siberian ginseng is a versatile herb that provides the nutritional support the body needs to adapt to a wide variety of stressful situations. A shrub with spiny shoots and light brown or gray bark, Siberian ginseng is among the most revered and ancient of all herbs. In addition to thousands of years of use in China, it also has a long history of use in Russia, where it's been the subject of dozens of studies involving thousands of people.In 1947, a Russian scientist coined the word 'adaptogen' to describe Siberian ginseng's ability to help the body adapt to a wide variety of stressful situations. It contains compounds known as eleutherosides, the active constituents that are thought to give Siberian ginseng its adaptogenic properties. 90 caps 200 mg"

PhysioLogics L-Tyrosine  "L-tyrosine is a conditionally-essential amino acid used by the body to synthesize brain chemicals, specifically three important neurotransmitters – catecholamines (dopamine), norepinephrine (noradrenaline), and epinephrine (adrenaline). When the body is stressed, less l-tyrosine is available for the brain to make catecholamines. Animal research has shown that when catecholamine levels drop, the animal begins to experience the negative effects of stress more readily. So too, researchers theorize, with humans: a drop in catecholamine levels can result in mood changes, anxiousness, and decreased concentration. 90 caps/500 mg"

PhysioLogics Valerian Plus  The Herb Valerian has been used for centuries to calm frazzled nerves.

PhysioLogics Stress Master  "Helps the body when it's under pressure and combats the physical and mental effects of fatigue. Stress Master provides a powerful combination of vitamins, minerals and herbs that nourish the nervous system and adrenal glands. Healthy adrenal glands can promote the body's ability to deal with stress, energize the brain, and promote nervous system health.A balanced vitamin B-complex benefits the entire nervous system. When all the B vitamins are present in the body at the same time, they complement one another by acting as coenzymes involved in energy production. Vitamins C, E, and B5 (pantothenic acid), along with bioflavonoids, all work together to nourish the adrenals. 90 caps/457 mg"

GlandAdren  Adrenogen ™ Adrenogen provides nutritional support for adrenal function by combining high quality raw adrenal concentrate with select B vitamins involved in hormone production and regulation. The body's adrenal glands produce stress hormones, steroid hormones, and blood pressure-regulating hormones.

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