HealtH Watch
Asian Voice - Saturday 28th July 2012
29
Stress can be good for immune system? Stress is bad for youyou've heard it a thousand times. But it can be good for your immune system, says a study. Short-term stress, the fight-or-flight response, a mobilisation of bodily resources lasting minutes or hours in response to immediate threats -stimulates immune activity, said Firdaus Dhabhar, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioural sciences and member of the Stanford University Institute for Immunity, Transplantation, and Infection. And that's a
onto the skin and other tissues, according to a university statement. This large-scale migration of immune cells, which took place over two hours, was comparable to the mustering of troops in a crisis, Dhabhar said. He and colleagues had previously shown that a similar immune-cell redistribution in patients experiencing the short-term stress of surgery predicts enhanced postoperative recovery. Investigators were able to show that the massive redistribution of immune cells throughout
good thing. The immune system is crucial for wound healing and preventing or fighting infection, and both wounds and infections are common risks during chases, escapes and combat, the Journal of Psychoneuroendocrinolog y reported. Working with colleagues at Stanford and two other universities, Dhabhar showed that subjecting lab rats to mild stress caused a massive mobilization of several key types of immune cells into the bloodstream and then
the body was orchestrated by three hormones released by the adrenal glands, in different amounts and at different times, in response to the stress-inducing event. These hormones are the brain's call-to-arms to the rest of the body, Dhabhar said. "Mother Nature gave us the fight-or-flight stress response to help us, not to kill us," said Dhabhar, who has been conducting experiments for well over a decade on the effects of the major stress hormones on the immune system. The findings paint a clearer picture of exactly how the mind influences immune activity. "An impala's immune system has no way of knowing that a lion is lurking in the grass and is about to pounce, but its brain does," Dhabhar added.
To Our Readers We are publishing these items in good faith, kindly consult your Doctor before you try to implement it. We do not hold any responsibility for its efficacy...
Need a quick health check? Turn to the mirror to know what your face reveals about your health. Your face is much more than the visage of your personality to the world. It's your best asset, your fortune, your primary outlet of nonverbal expression and with facial recognition softwares, it's your password as well. Or in Oscar Wilde's words; a man's face is his autobiography and a woman's, her work of fiction. But research has shown that your face is also a good barometer of your health and what's wrong with it. While facial diagnosis is not an absolute science, the condition of your skin speaks a lot about what's going on inside, both physically and emotionally. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners have for centuries used facial analysis as a diagnostic tool by matching facial areas and features with organs and emotional states. So the stubborn pimple that chooses to erupt on the same spot of your cheek is perhaps pointing at a graver health issue that needs attention. Here is how you can read
your face to adopt a healthier lifestyle: Forehead: Your vast forehead speaks for several organs such as the heart, the bladder and the small intestine network. So be prepared to flaunt all the wear and tear of excessive partying or your sleepless nights. A reddened, flaky complexion of your forehead could point to a digestive tract that's crying for some lubrication while congestion hints at poor detoxification. But if you have got both, your digestive apparatus is screaming out to you. First off, go easy on the partying and make sleep a priority. Avoid oily foods and processed foods till you get the shine back. Eyebrows: The window to your liver lies between the eyebrows. Expect too much alcohol and bingeing on other toxins to make their appearance here. Ancient Chinese medicine considers the liver to be directly linked with anger. So if you find yourself breaking into a tight scowl too often, you may want to cool off your anger issues. A stronger right brow says that you are more likely to
express anger outwardly. However, a stronger left brow means that your tendency is to suppress your anger. Mouth: This one's a no-brainer. Your mouth obviously correlates to your stomach. While the lips are linked to the stomach and intestine, the surrounding area at the sides that pass on to the jowls are connected to the colon. Spots or discolouration dotted around your lips could hence indicate poor bowel movements, bloating or even a poor appetite. This may also be a reminder to check for any food allergies that you may have never learnt of. Gums, if bloody, point to an acidic tummy, while dry, chapped lips mean dehydration. Cracks or sores in particular, call out for a spleen that's not cared for. Vitamin B and iron supplements may make matters better. Cheeks: The mildest of rashes on your cheeks could indicate that your
It is proven that good night’s sleep is important for numerous health benefits. But want to know what is the best sleep position to get a good night’s rest? The best position is to sleep on your back, according to a new study. It prevents neck and back pain, reduces acid reflux and minimizes wrinkles. Sleeping on your back makes it easy for your head, neck and spine to maintain a neutral position. However, people with severe snoring or sleep apnea should avoid sleeping on their back.
This position is recommended for people with neck pain along with a cervical roll or pillow. The next best position is the
their left side to increase blood flow to the baby. Side sleeping keeps your spine elongated preventing back soreness.
side position. This position is great for your overall health. It prevents neck and back pain, reduces acid reflux and reduces snoring. This position is ideal for women who are pregnant. Women in late pregnancy should sleep on
Side-sleeping, however, tends to constrict the shoulder and neck muscles due to the weight of the head on the arm all night. Side-sleepers should do a shoulder stretch to stretch the back of the shoulders and prevent soreness. Side-sleeping also might
body is starved of oxygen as your cheeks are wired to your respiratory system. The solution is to make your breathing fuller and deeper by working out or doing yoga. If you smoke regularly, watch out for broken capillaries, discolouration, fine lines or congestion in this spot. Likewise for those down with cold or flu. If your redness aggravates easily, you may be overdoing your dose of stimulants such as coffee, colas and alcohol. Chin: Your chin mirrors the kidneys and the bladder. Keep an eye out for any hormonal imbalance as it will show up here. Congestion around the chin point to your kidneys working overtime, most likely due to you putting yourself through extreme amounts of stress. Chin indicates adrenal fatigue. Heavy stress causes your adrenals that sit above the kidneys to release cortisol.
Want a good night’s rest? Sleep on your back
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worsen facial wrinkles and increase breast sagging over time. This sleep position is recommended for people with back pain with a pillow under your knees to relieve strain on the lumbar spine. The worst position to sleep in is on your stomach. The stomach position eases snoring but is bad for your neck and back. Stomachsleeping makes it difficult to maintain a neutral position with your spine. It puts pressure on joints and muscles, which can irritate nerves and lead to pain, numbness and tingling.
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