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Plaque - My Worst Enemy
Well, fellow posters, I am off to the ER again! Last December, I lost part of the vision in my right eye due to plaque in the artery to the retina. I was told then I should see a doctor because that meant the plaque was too close to the brain. Lately, I have been having headaches on the right side of my head. Close to where the blockage to my eye is. Sunday I remember for just a few minutes my legs felt like jello and felt as though they weren't attached to my body. This morning the headache returned and has not relented. For a few minutes my left arm felt like jello and not connected to my body. I felt as though I wouldn't be able to walk straight. At any rate, as soon as I tie up some lose ends here at work I will be off to the ER. I know that sounds terrible, but that is how I always do things. Take care all, Ally
You know, Ed, it's interesting you say that about "relaxation".Not being able to relax seems to be my way of life now. Always on the move. I can't sit still. There is so much to do and I feel as though I have to do it all whether I am able to or not. A few years back when my husband began to feel the effects of his cancer, and before he knew for sure that's what it was, he couldn't or wouldn't do a lot of things he should. So I thought it my job to get them done. That stressed me out even more. The fact that "I" had to take over for him. Then that would result in an agrument with him. Thus the cycle would begin. Now add in the 3 grandkids all under 9, and all that goes into raising them. But I still can't grasp this "relax" idea. There is just too much to get done. I have tried to sit in the recliner and feel so useless. I feel I have to be doing something. There is just so much to do!!! How can I relax? This is my biggest problem. I don't need any new drugs. I need to re-adjust my thinking and learn how to slow down. I believe my life depends on that now. Thanks to all of you, Ally
While attending my yoga classes I have come across following explanation of how stress can adversely impact our body. I hope other members may be able to provide more scientific basis.
Our body is blessed with a control system called autonomic nervous system (ANS) which prepares our body for various situations. ANS has two modes of function, Sympthatic Nervous system (SNS) and Parasympthatic Nervous system (PNS).
SNS takes control our nervous system in case of any threat/fear and puts out bofy into fight/protect mode. Stress is a manifestation of threat/fight/fear. In this mode SNS diverts blood to our muscle system and may be brain, to react under threat/fight/fear and the vital organs (liver, kidney, stomach etc) do not get sufficient quantity of blood for their efficient function. If we are stressed continuously and over a period of time the SNS takes the control and keeps our body in fight mode.
When we are relaxed (not under stress) or sleeping the PNS takes the control and supplies more blood to vital organs like kidney, liver etc and does repair of all the systems and organs of body. Even during day time if we are not stresed, PNS gets opportunity to take over and keep functioning of our vital organs in order.
That is why yoga practice is basically aimed at conditioning our body to remain in relax mode.
Both systems are vital for our survival and need to be in balance. In case one of the system gets control for longer duration, such as longer periods of stress (may be from few months to few years). SNS prevails most of the time and the vital organs are deprived of sufficient quantity of blood and over a period of time start malfunctioning. This malfunctioning of vital organs may manifest in various diseases including diabetics, deposit of plaque in our blood carrying vessels (probably due to some malfunction of liver). If one is highly stressed person, he may get plaque deposits even his intake of fat is low. If someone can remain relaxed most of the time even higher intake of fat may not effect him.
I am not an expert. Just sharing what I learned.
Our body is blessed with a control system called autonomic nervous system (ANS) which prepares our body for various situations. ANS has two modes of function, Sympthatic Nervous system (SNS) and Parasympthatic Nervous system (PNS).
SNS takes control our nervous system in case of any threat/fear and puts out bofy into fight/protect mode. Stress is a manifestation of threat/fight/fear. In this mode SNS diverts blood to our muscle system and may be brain, to react under threat/fight/fear and the vital organs (liver, kidney, stomach etc) do not get sufficient quantity of blood for their efficient function. If we are stressed continuously and over a period of time the SNS takes the control and keeps our body in fight mode.
When we are relaxed (not under stress) or sleeping the PNS takes the control and supplies more blood to vital organs like kidney, liver etc and does repair of all the systems and organs of body. Even during day time if we are not stresed, PNS gets opportunity to take over and keep functioning of our vital organs in order.
That is why yoga practice is basically aimed at conditioning our body to remain in relax mode.
Both systems are vital for our survival and need to be in balance. In case one of the system gets control for longer duration, such as longer periods of stress (may be from few months to few years). SNS prevails most of the time and the vital organs are deprived of sufficient quantity of blood and over a period of time start malfunctioning. This malfunctioning of vital organs may manifest in various diseases including diabetics, deposit of plaque in our blood carrying vessels (probably due to some malfunction of liver). If one is highly stressed person, he may get plaque deposits even his intake of fat is low. If someone can remain relaxed most of the time even higher intake of fat may not effect him.
I am not an expert. Just sharing what I learned.
The problem is, many people don't realise they are stressed. It has become a way of life for many people. I had a stressful job, my home life was stressful, and I didn't even realise how stressed I was. When going on vacation, My wife would lay on the beach with the kids, and I couldn't. I just couldn't sit still for more than five minutes. I couldn't seem to handle relaxation and it felt totally alien to me. While they were sitting around, I would go for a walk, go swimming, hire a jet ski etc, anything to break the relaxation mode. All that time, I thought it was because I was a healthy active person. WRONG.
thats scarey when am in anxiety mode i stress for weeks at time. might get 4-5 hours a day stress free. does this mean i will die at a early age. oh wait am 51 lol, but i have anxiety and do stress a lot at times and now i help keep my mom who has alz and they live with me. this gives me stress. what is a person to do.
Our bodies are not geared to withstand lots of stress. The heart is forced to work very hard and fast due to hormone release, activated by the brain. If blockages exist, they could cause problems under such high demand and the hard plaque can fracture, allowing an eruption of the soft plaque in the vessel wall. Continual stress is likely to cause damage to vessels over a period of time, where tiny cracks appear in the artery lining, trapping blood cells and starting atherosclerosis.
If you put our close relatives, the apes, under prolonged stress, many of them die as a result. A short period of stress each day is supposed to be good for the body, but not 24/7. Our ancesters obviously relied on this when hunting to make them quicker in a battle, or able to run away from predators. I believe all mammals have this built into their system.
If you put our close relatives, the apes, under prolonged stress, many of them die as a result. A short period of stress each day is supposed to be good for the body, but not 24/7. Our ancesters obviously relied on this when hunting to make them quicker in a battle, or able to run away from predators. I believe all mammals have this built into their system.
awesome news chatter so glad to read your ok , sorry i didnt dsee before now , but will have you in my prayers for stress. yes stress can do all kinds things to body as you can see. write this down so next time it happens you can go back and see if you felt same way you did than. thats what i do it helps. P.T.L your ok
Good grief!!! It was all stress related. The headache, the numbness. The scans were clear. I am so relieved I wasn't having mini strokes, but feel so stupid that I allowed stress to do this to me. I know I was going through a lot and much too busy, but really, I thought I was stronger than that! Thank you all for your very kind thoughts. But I am back and am well. Love you all so much, Ally
We will miss you, return healthy and continue your fine work on the forum. Take care.
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