We will not be surprised to learn that all of this stress hormone surplus is going to be detrimental to our ticker. “Chronic activation of your stress response system increases your risk of blowing a gasket in your heart—otherwise known as heart disease,” said the writer. A few of the ‘lowlights’ include: Our blood gets thicker because of the tendency of stress hormones to promote blood clotting Feelings of sadness, anger, and control (and lack thereof ) are linked to causation of heart disease Risk for coronary heart disease is three to five times greater in people with higher levels of anger, anxiety, and worry. He also reminds us of the part we have to play in impacting a healthy heart: “The dissipation of stress, through either meditation or exercise, helps to bring blood pressure back to normal levels.” And now for the good news It’s with a degree of trepidation that I once again bang on about the source, but it’s critical to remind ourselves here of the latter part of the title of the main book in question, and that is: ‘and What You Can Do About It’. There are practical tips aplenty within
the pages about how we can reduce stress and cortisol levels, in some instances relating directly to case studies. This is a medical book, a scientific book, but written for ease of access and intended for scholar and laymen alike. It’s no mere tome of doom, gloom and bleak news designed to have us leaking the very stuff it sets to educate us about. Rather it’s a highly practical source of information on how unchecked stress can impact us and what can be done about it, as Talbott concludes: “At first glance, many of us might view the close relationship between stress, cortisol, and the long list of chronic diseases as a hopeless disaster just waiting to happen— and for a great many people, it is. The good news, however, is that armed with the right information and the proper motivation, one can do a great deal to counteract these potential problems. The general idea is to control the stress response in such a way that cortisol levels are maintained within their optimal range—not too high and not too low—with long-term health and wellness as the outcome.” The message is simple; more balance and less stress helps us live longer, healthier, happier and more successful lives. Susan Ritson is a Solution Focused Paul Concannon is a solution focused hypnotherapist working from Bristol. For more information go to: http://relaxationinaction.com/
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