EASING STRESS

Minor raised blood pressure can easily be controlled by simple lifestyle changes, taking some exercise and no its not neccessary to take out a gym membership, brisk walking, taking the stairs rather than the lift, walking instead of driving. Loosing some weight, cutting out fatty foods, stopping smoking and cutting down on alcohol.

Now we know that the Sympathetic Nervous System increases blood pressure, so designed to help us survive in danger, though we no longer have the same dangers today as we did in evolution and we know the body can't differentiate between modern stressors and those centuries ago. Modern stressors tend to go on for long periods of time, this is bad for us, so to combat the effects of the SNS we need to "fool" the body into believing the stress is over and triggering the Parasympathetic Nervous System. The PSN reverses all the effects of the SNS, so therefore blood pressure will fall, the heart rate will slow down, respirations will become slower and deeper, blood will begin flowing to the extremities such as the skin and hair this is due to adrenaline no longer being produced as adrenaline causes vaso contraction (arterioles tiny arterial vessels narrow, this causes a rise in blood pressure as the volume of blood has less of an area in which to flow, blood is diverted from the skin and hair) and the digestive system will start functioning properly. 

Many types of therapies can instigate the PSN one of the simplest and cheapest, as it needs no financial outlay is Meditation. Some people may find meditation difficult as it does take a bit of mind discipline as the idea is to empty your mind of current thoughts and you do get better with practice. By training in meditation, we create an inner space and clarity that enables us to control our mind regardless of the external circumstances. Gradually we develop mental equilibrium, a balanced mind that is happy all the time, rather than an unbalanced mind that oscillates between the extremes of excitement and despondency. If we train in meditation systematically, eventually we will be able to eradicate from our mind the delusions that are the causes of all our problems and suffering. In this way, we will come to experience a permanent inner peace. There are many ways to learn the art of meditation, you can join a class and meditate within a group and by being part of a group it does help and you can discuss any difficulties you may experience but equally a cheaper option is to use a guided mediation CD and this is very effective, remember practice makes perfect. Meditation instills an inner calm so effectively you are working on the Hypothalamus, the area of moods and emotions within the brain, by practicing meditation you trigger the PSN. There are a number of articles on Meditation included 'A guided meditation' on my site here.

Any kind of massage will also trigger the PSN, it does this in the following ways. Massage stimulates blood flow to the surface of the skin due to the specialised cells within the Dermis, Mast cells, to release Histamine, what histamine does is to cause vaso dilation (the tiny arteries arterioles to dilate) this means that the blood is able to flow over a wider area over the body to the skin, this then takes the strain of the heart and reduces blood pressure. The skin and hair will of course will get a better blood supply so increased nourishment for them. 

When we are stressed we inadvertedly tense up our muscles particularly in the area of the neck and upper back, this can lead to tension headaches, by working on the muscles in massage you ease the tension so this can ease those tension aches and aches in the neck and back.

Whenever we touch one another there is an exchange of energy, think back to childhood when you fell over, didn't your mother rubbing or kissing the affected area feel better. Touch is fundamental and massage has been practised as a therapy from ancient times, it is comforting and healing. Massage comforts and soothes, eases tension stimulates peripheral blood flow, this stimulates the PSN.

With Aromatherapy massage it works in two ways, the massage alone is beneficial as I have described but the use of certain essential oils affect the body by evoking a reaction in the hypothalamus via the limbic system (specialsed nerve cells within the upper portion of the nose pick up the tiny molecules of the essential oils these cells are connected to the hypothalamus. The other way essential oils work is by absorption through the skin into the blood stream whereby the can also evoke a reaction in the hypothalamus as  well as being the home of moods and emotions it maintains homeostasis in the body. Different essential oils create different effects in the body and most of them do relax the body but there are those that can raise the blood pressure such as Hysop,  Rosemary, Sage and Thyme, these have a stimulating effect.

Astrid Brown (Author) › Visit Amazon's Astrid Brown Page Find all the books, read about the author, and more

HOW STRESS AGES THE SKIN

We all know how smoking,(with the effects of nicotine which is a vasoconstrictor) and the sun (Harmful UVA and UVB rays) damage the skin, along with a bad diet but are you aware of the damage stress does to our skin? To explain it's necessary to understand what happens in our body when we are stressed

THE SCIENCE BIT

Deep within the brain we have an area known as the Hypothalamus, its the home of our moods and emotions and a very primitive part of the brain. The Hypothalamus is also the area that maintains equilibrium in our bodies and it maintains and regulates every bit of our body's chemistry. It is the area that controls the Endocrine system, it forms part of the Autonomic Nervous System and part of the Limbic System. It is Hypothalmus  that is the key to managing stress and all its detrimental effects on our mind and body. It is directly through this area that the holistic therapy Aromatherapy works and is managed by other holistic therapies.

 Since the Hypothalamus is the home of moods and emotions anything that affects these will influence the Hypothalamus, thus will have an effect on the body's equilibrium.

Now if we are stressed and modern stressors are not the same as those stressors we had as we were evolving as humans, they still have the same effect resulting in "the fight or flight response"

The Role of the Hypothalamus

The Hypothalamus is the part of the brain that controls the endocrine system.
The Pituitary gland lies beneath the Hypothalamus and it is this that controls the other endocrine glands.
The Hypothalamus receives information about the Homeostasis (balance) of the body, this is achieved by two means:

The blood circulation i.e. temperature, blood glucose levels and hormone levels
The nervous system i.e. The Autonomic Nervous system i.e. the part of the nervous system that regulates automatic functions e.g. breathing, heart rate etc. and mental and emotional states, our feelings: these influence ‘automatic responses’ e.g. ‘The fear, flight response’
The Hypothalamus responds to these changes by:

Secreting Hormones (chemical messengers) that regulate hormones to be released by the anterior lobe of the pituitary
The hypothalamus also directly releases hormones via the Posterior Lobe of the Pituitary , Vasopressin (ADH) and Oxytocin
And by stimulating a nerve response to the ‘Central Nervous System’ (Brain & spinal Cord)

SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE?

Moods/emotions affect the hypothalamus, the hypothalamus evokes a reaction on the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland produces Adrenocorticotropic hormone this in turn targets the adrenal glands causing them to secrete Cortisone, Cortisone in turn effects the kidneys causing a rise in blood pressure by causing changes in the amount of salt secreted, this hormone causes the body to retain salt. Now remember the Hypothalamus one of its jobs is to maintain the body's equilibrium, it detects a rise in salt levels in the blood so to keep balance it causes the body to retain fluid, it is this retained fluid that increases blood pressure. At the same time, the Hypothalamus being part of the Central Nervous System evokes what is known as the Sympathetic Nervous System this diverts blood away from the digestive system and to lesser important body structures such as the skin and concentrates the blood to the heart, lungs and muscles. Simultaneously this nervous response influences the adrenal glands to produce Adrenalin and Noradrenalin, it is these hormones that induces vasoconstriction (reduces the blood supply) to the skin and peripheral tissues, thus also raising blood pressure.

Now this is putting it simply there are a few other processes also going on to increase blood sugar to give the body fuel to either run off or fight, Corticotrophic hormones influence the pancreas to secrete glucagon this has the opposite effect as insulin.

When the stress is over the Parasympathetic Nervous reverses the process again it is the Hyptholamus that instigates this.

Obviously its much more complex than this and I have focused on a few key hormones as it the action of these hormones that affects our well-being, the ageing process and blood pressure.

The fight or flight response was not designed to last forever it was meant ti instigate an action to deal with an aggressor, be it a wild animal or in a fight with an attacker therein lies the problem modern stressors tends to be work, work colleagues etc. the stress becomes long acting, this kind of reaction is fine in the short term but very detrimental to the body in the long term.

Take Cortisone, it has a damaging effect on specialised cells within the dermis (the skin), fibroblasts, these cells produce collagen and elastin, it is collagen and elastin that gives our skin elasticity and support. Adrenalin reduces blood supply to the peripheral tissues, such as the skin and hair, therefore, these structures do not receive adequate nourishment from the blood. So the effect of long term stress affects the skin resulting in ageing of the skin.

We all have various stresses in our lives, we cannot avoid it but we can reduce the effect it has on us with various relaxation techniques such as meditation and other therapies, such as massage, aromatherapy and reflexology or any pastime, even walking, that helps us relax. I hear all the time from clients I haven't the time to have a massage etc but even five minutes of meditation will have beneficial effects on our health in general and not just skin ageing. You can use the most expensive skin creams (not always the best), give up smoking, keep out of the sun but if you're highly stressed and not addressing the situation your skin won't be the best it could be.

To be the best we can be, we need to take a holistic approach to our health for our spirit, mind and body all work together so don't neglect any one component of this as each influences the other i.e. a stressed mind is going to affect our physical body and the skin, the body's largest organ is sure to be affected.

copyright

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A NEW STUDY SHOWS GIRLS WHO ARE PRONE TO DEPRESSION AGE FASTER

*

Girls who are stressed and prone to depression 'age faster than their peers'
Girls with a family history of depression respond differently to stress
Their bodies release higher levels of the hormone cortisol
They also have telomeres that are shorter by the equivalent of six years
Telomeres are caps on the end of chromosomes which are linked to ageing
Shorter telomeres are linked to premature death, and increase in disease
Exercise has been shown to delay telomere shortening, experts advised ..............continued below.................

____________________________________________

WHAT HAPPENS TO US WHEN WE ARE STRESSED?

Well this goes way back to the times when we were developing as humans and in early periods in history. The body's chemistry was designed to protect us with "The fight or flight response". For example man sees a big bear approach what does he do? he either tackles it or he runs off. Nature is very clever and gives us the capacity to do this. However in 2011 we no longer have the bears, wolves, etc. (ok some of you may) like of yesteryear we have different stresses. Your work colleagues or your neighbours may annoy you but you can't fight them, nor can you run away, but you can learn to deal and dissipate your stress levels so that it doesn't impinge on your health.

But firstly we need to deal with the science bit for if we understand the physiology of stress we're half way there to solving the impact stress has on our lives.

THE SCIENCE BIT

Deep within the brain we have an area known as the Hypothalamus (1), its the home of our moods and emotions and a very primitive part of the brain. The Hypothalamus is also the area that maintains equilibrium in our bodies and it maintains and regulates every bit of our body's chemistry. It is the area that controls the Endocrine system, it forms part of the Autonomic Nervous System and part of the Limbic System. It is Hypothalmus  that is the key to managing stress and all its detrimental effects on our mind and body. It is directly through this area that the holistic therapy Aromatherapy works and is managed by other holistic therapies.

 Since the Hypothalamus is the home of moods and emotions anything that affects these will influence the Hypothalamus, thus will have an effect on the body's equilibrium.

Now if we are stressed and modern stressors are not the same as those stressors we had as we were evolving as humans, they still have the same effect resulting in "the fight or flight response"

  

(1)The Role of the Hypothalamus

The Hypothalamus is the part of the brain that controls the endocrine system.

The Pituitary gland lies beneath the Hypothalamus  and it is this that controls the other endocrine glands.

The Hypothalamus receives information about the Homeostasis (balance) of the body, this is achieved by two means:

• The blood circulation i.e. temperature, blood glucose levels and hormone levels
• The nervous system i.e. The Autonomic Nervous system i.e. the part of the nervous system that regulates automatic functions e.g. breathing, heart rate etc. and mental and emotional states, our feelings: these influence ‘automatic responses’ e.g. ‘The fear, flight response’

The Hypothalamus responds to these changes by:

• Secreting Hormones (chemical messengers) that regulate hormones to be released by the anterior lobe of the pituitary
• The hypothalamus also directly releases hormones via the Posterior Lobe of the Pituitary , Vasopressin (ADH) and Oxytocin
• And by stimulating a nerve response to the ‘Central Nervous System’ (Brain & spinal Cord)

SO WHAT HAPPENS IN THE FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE?

Moods/emotions affect the hypothalamus, the hypothalamus evokes a reaction on the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland produces Adrenocorticotropic hormone this in turn targets the adrenal glands causing them to secrete Cortisone, Cortisone in turn effects the kidneys causing a rise in blood pressure by causing changes in the amount of salt secreted, this hormone causes the body to retain salt. Now remember the Hypothalamus one of its jobs is to maintain the body's equilibrium, it detects a rise in salt levels in the blood so to keep balance it causes the body to retain fluid, it is this retained fluid that increases blood pressure. At the same time, the Hypothalamus being part of the Central Nervous System evokes what is known as the Sympathetic Nervous System this diverts blood away from the digestive system and to lesser important body structures such as the skin and concentrates the blood to the heart, lungs and muscles. Simultaneously this nervous response influences the adrenal glands to produce Adrenalin and Noradrenalin, it is these hormones that induces vasoconstriction (reduces the blood supply) to the skin and peripheral tissues, thus also raising blood pressure.

Now this is putting it simply there are a few other processes also going on to increase blood sugar to give the body fuel to either run off or fight, Corticotrophic hormones influence the pancreas to secrete glucagon this has the opposite effect as insulin.

When the stress is over the Parasympathetic Nervous reverses the process again it is the Hyptholamus that instigates this.

Obviously its much more complex than this and I have focused on a few key hormones as it the action of these hormones that affects our well-being, the ageing process and blood pressure.

The fight or flight response was not designed to last forever it was meant ti instigate an action to deal with an aggressor, be it a wild animal or in a fight with an attacker therein lies the problem modern stressors tends to be work, work colleagues etc. the stress becomes long acting, this kind of reaction is fine in the short term but very detrimental to the body in the long term.

Take Cortisone, it has a damaging effect on specialised cells within the dermis (the skin), fibroblasts, these cells produce collagen and elastin, it is collagen and elastin that gives our skin elasticity and support. Adrenalin reduces blood supply to the peripheral tissues, such as the skin and hair, therefore, these structures do not receive adequate nourishment from the blood. So the effect of long term stress affects the skin resulting in ageing of the skin





Stress and how it affects us 

Stress The dictionary definition of stress is: a constraining or impelling force, effort or demand upon physical or mental energy. A stressor is a person or situation that makes you become stressed. We are more likely to suffer stress in society today than that of our ancestors. 70% of all illness to day is now directly attributed to stress. Modern society with all its pressures traffic congestion, over-crowding, noise, fears and general uncertainties about work, mortgages and family life present situation after situation where the state of stress is ever present. Stress is an everyday part of modern life, everyone experiences at sometime or another and everyday stresses are not necessarily harmful. A certain about of stress keeps us motivated and stimulated to make life more enjoyable and interesting. It is the effect of long-term stress that can be positively harmful to our bodies.

When do stress levels become harmful? 

The factors that seem to make any situation dangerously stressful are:

• Lack of predictability
• Lack of control
• Lack of outlets for frustration

For when these elements are present even simple situations can become stressful and produce a reaction that is completely out of proportion to the cause. It is not the situation but our reaction to it that creates the stress in our lives. The problem with us humans we have this tendency to dwell on the past and worry about the future and this takes our attention away from the present. Yet it is in the present moment that we have the greatest clarity to deal with any situation. We should enjoy our life in the present for in holding on to the past and holding back the future we create fear and ultimately stress. Growth in our lives is usually preceded by change the problem is handling change can be difficult in the short term and life-changing events such as:

• Bereavement
• Moving House
• Debt
• Ill Health
• Difficult Relationships
• Stressful Work
• Family Problems Have been identified as the most likely to cause negative or harmful stress.
Even positive events such as:
• Marriage
• Pregnancy
• A child starting school or University May cause you stress and can ultimately lead to illness.

Your personality and coping mechanisms will largely determine how you deal with these daily stresses and strains.

MPB (c)

CORTISOL OFTEN KNOWN AS THE 'STRESS HORMONE' 

Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced within the adrenal cortex in the adrenal glands, these are cone shaped organs sitting on top of the kidneys. It's a very important hormone and responsible for proper glucose metabolism, helping regulate blood pressure, has a part to play in insulin and blood sugar levels and is part of the inflammatory response. It's often known as the stress hormone but as you can see that's only part of its functions, and this is because it's secreted in higher levels as part of the 'Fight or Flight response'. When secreted in short bursts its beneficial to the body as due to it's actions, it helps mobilise energy reserves, heightens memory and lowers response to pain. This is how and why it's beneficial in the 'Fight and Flight response', it acts quickly and helps survival, however today's stresses are not the same as yesteryear and therein lies the problem.

When there is prolonged secretion of this hormone, when stress is on going, it causes blood sugar imbalances, affects bone density, causing it to decrease and also causes a decrease in muscle tissue. It raises blood pressure affects the body's immune system making us more susceptible to infection and leads to poor healing. It also causes shifts in body fat by increasing more fat around the abdominal areas and leads to higher levels of cholesterol.

The Hypothalamus & the Relationship to the Endocrine System in ‘Stress’

Below the flow chart illustrates how our minds' emotions and feelings trigger a reaction in the Hypothalamus to instigate what happens in the 'Fight or Flight' response. The Hypothalamus then in turn influences both the Autonomic Nervous System and the Endocrine system. This is fine short term it helps us cope in dangerous scenarios and was designed as a protective response, however the stresses of today are not those of yesteryear. No harm comes to our bodies in the short term, this is not the case in long term stress. All is not lost for there are ways we can influence the Hypothalamus to prevent the long term damaging effects of stress on our health. I shall be exploring this under Holistic Therapies. 

___________________________________________

*
ARTICLE BELOW IS FROM THE 'DAILY MAIL'

Girls who are stressed and prone to depression may age prematurely, a new study has found.

The research shows girls with a family history of depression respond to stressful situations by releasing higher levels of the hormone cortisol.

Scientists believe that in large amounts, cortisol can damage the immune system and organs, including the brain.

Girls with a history of depression also have telomeres that are shorter by the equivalent of six years in adults, researchers found. 

Girls prone to depression respond to stress by producing more of the hormone cortisol. They have shorter telomeres -  the caps on the end of chromosomes - which is a sign of ageing

Telomeres are caps on the ends of chromosomes, which get a little shorter every time a cell divides, or as a result of exposure to stress.

Telomere length is like a biological clock corresponding to age, getting shorter as adults grow up.

Previous studies have shown links between shorter telomeres and premature death, more frequent infections, and chronic diseases in adults.  

Professor Ian Gotlib, from Stanford University said the findings came as a surprise.

He said: 'I did not think that these girls would have shorter telomeres than their low-risk counterparts — they're too young.'

For the study, researchers recruited 10 to 14-year-old healthy girls with a family history of depression and compared them to healthy girls without that background. 

They measured the girls' response to stress tests, asking them to count backward from 100 by seven, and interviewing them about stressful situations.

Before and after the test, the team measured the girls' cortisol levels and also analysed DNA samples for telomere length.

'No one had examined telomere length in young children who are at risk for developing depression,' before the study, Professor Gotlib said. 

Healthy but high-risk 12-year-old girls had significantly shorter telomeres - a sign of premature aging. 

Exercise has been shown to delay telomere shortening in adults, so girls at high-risk girls should take exercise and learn other stress reduction techniques, experts advised

Professor Gotlib said: 'It's the equivalent in adults of six years of biological aging.

But he added that 'it's not at all clear that that makes them 18, because no one has done this measurement in children'.

Exercise has been shown to delay telomere shortening in adults, so girls at high-risk girls should learn stress reduction techniques, he advised.

Other studies show that neuro-feedback and attention bias training – which redirects attention toward the positive - appear promising.

Other investigators are studying techniques based on mindfulness training.

Professor Gotlib said he and colleagues are continuing to monitor the girls from the original study and it seems as though those with shorter telomeres are more likely to become depressed.

'It's looking like telomere length is predicting who's going to become depressed and who's not' he said.

The study was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.

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MIGRAINE

Raising the profile of migraine today, most people assume it's just a headache, but if you have ever really suffered from it you will know there is a big difference to this debilitating ailment. Many work and school hours are lost due to migraine and it's often dismissed as an excuse for absence by ignorant people, believe me you would not wish to suffer from it. In this article below from THE DAILY MAIL, it explains silent migraine, but migraine doesn't just attack the blood vessels in the head but also the abdomen and often this is the first indication a child will go on to suffer the more usual symptoms of migraine later on. Some adults are affected by both and and some with all three types. 

I myself suffer from all three since my teens but I've never let it rule my life and know what my triggers are, so I can avoid them, (stress, cheese, chocolate and red wine the most common) For me homoeopathy when it was severe and recurrent helped me enormously and before you dismiss that as a placebo effect, homoeopathy works very well on babies, small children and animals who are incapable of being placated by placebos. There are many treatments available so do not put up with it speak to your doctor who can refer you a specialist to give you the correct diagnosis and help you manage this debilitating condition. If you think you suffer from migraine have it confirmed as it simply is not just a headache

They don't give you a headache - but 'silent migraines' can be even more shattering

• Rachel Paskin, 42, from Aldridge, suffers from silent migraines - auras
• Rarely has headache but bright, flashing line appears across her eyes

Rachel suffers from aura migraine, which causes her vision to partially disappear for about 20 minutes

Rachel Paskin has suffered from migraines for almost 30 years but rarely has a headache. Instead, a bright, flashing line appears across her eyes, causing her vision to partly disappear.
The 42-year-old has suffered up to five such attacks a day, severely affecting her work and ability to drive.
What she experiences is known as a silent migraine - a type of migraine that comes without the severe headache typically associated with the condition.
Instead, those affected experience visual  disturbance, co-ordination problems, and pins and needles (symptoms known as migraine 'aura').
'The first time it happened I was about 14 and thought I was having a stroke or going blind - it was terrifying,' says Rachel, a Birmingham City University administrator who lives with her husband Neil, 44, a heritage building restorer, in Aldridge, West Midlands.
She saw an optician, who reassured her there was nothing wrong with her eyes, but after doing her own research she realised what was causing her symptoms.
She put up with the silent migraines and realised she would feel OK again after they passed, usually after about 20 minutes - although during that time she couldn't see properly and her co-ordination was compromised.
On average, she had about five attacks a year but two years ago she started having the attacks four or five times a day so she sought medical help. In the aftermath, she felt 'spaced out' and tired for a few hours.
Migraine aura can have a wide range of different symptoms, including seeing flashing lights, zigzag lines and blind spots, stiffness or a tingling sensation in the neck, shoulders and limbs, problems with co-ordination, difficulty speaking, and occasionally loss of consciousness.
Aura often strikes just before a crippling headache, which usually sets in under an hour after the aura finishes. 

 Experiences of aura varies. Some people never have a headache, and just experience aura, while others will initially  experience just aura symptoms, but then go on to experience severe headaches.

Some people's migraines change as they age, so the headache can fade, while the aura remains. 
Around a third of the eight million people in the UK who suffer from  migraines experience the symptoms of aura, with an estimated 1 per cent - around 80,000 - having silent migraines, according to the Migraine Trust.
However, the real number may be much higher, suggests Dr Mark Weatherall, a consultant neurologist at Charing Cross Hospital, London. He believes silent migraine cases are significantly under-reported, as many people will experience them infrequently and not seek help.

190,000

The estimated number of migraine attacks that occur every day in the UK

But he warns it is important to rule out other causes if the symptoms suddenly start, particularly in the over-60s, as such symptoms are also linked with stroke and a detached retina (when the light-sensitive area at the back of the eye detaches from blood vessels, potentially causing blindness).
'It can even be difficult for a healthcare professional to tell the difference between the symptoms of a stroke and a  prolonged attack of aura,' he says.
Indeed, people experiencing silent migraine for the first time often dash to A&E or their GP practice, frightened they are having a stroke - that's because they don't also have the headache symptom that might suggest it's a migraine, says Dr Andrew Dowson, director of headache services at King's College Hospital, London.
'Auras can be worrying,' he adds.
The key point is that migraine aura symptoms develop relatively slowly, and then spread and intensify, while stroke symptoms are sudden, according to the Stroke Association.
Migraines also involve acquiring symptoms, such as seeing flashing lights - stroke is characterised by losing abilities, such as muscle strength or speech.
It's important to get the correct diagnosis of migraine with aura as it's linked to a higher risk of stroke and heart problems.

Auras can happen without any of the traditional pain associated with migraine, but are distressing

A 15-year study into the health of 28,000 female health professionals at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in the U.S. found migraines with aura were the second highest risk factor for heart attack and stroke, after high blood pressure.
A review of 25 studies published in the British Medical Journal in 2009 found risk of stroke for people with migraine with aura was twice as high as the rest of the population, while there was no extra risk for those with migraine without aura.
For women with aura the risk of stroke was double that of men with aura.
And a French study found that women who suffered migraine with aura who took the contraceptive Pill had a 16 times greater risk of stroke; if they smoked as well it led to a 34 times higher risk.
For this reason, women with aura should not be on the combined Pill and should stop smoking, says Dr Fayyaz Ahmed, a consultant neurologist at Hull Royal Infirmary.

'Attacks of migraine aura can cause a lack of confidence in leaving the home, because not being able to see properly can cause vulnerability'

'Stroke risk is higher for those with aura, but it is still small, until you factor in smoking and taking the combined Pill. It is important doctors are aware of these risks to give correct advice.'
Meanwhile, the British Heart Foundation says that people with aura should reduce their risk of heart trouble by keeping physically active, eating a healthy diet and not smoking - and advises anyone concerned by the risks to consult their GP for more advice.
When Rachel was formally diagnosed two years ago, her GP prescribed propranolol, a beta blocker used for angina and high blood pressure, also found to be effective in reducing migraine (it's thought the medication, which reduces blood flow and opens blood vessels, helps by reducing electrical activity in the brain during migraine).
After taking it for three months, her migraines subsided, and have since gone back to the usual rate of about five a year.
Susan Haydon, from the Migraine Trust, says: 'No one is really sure why migraines can change. They tend to be worse in younger people, and may ease off in the 50s and 60s - 40 per cent of sufferers no longer have migraines by age 65.
'Attacks of migraine aura can cause a lack of confidence in leaving the home, because not being able to see properly can cause vulnerability. If a person drives for their job such attacks could mean a change of career.' If it interferes with driving safety, aura may need to be reported to the Driving and  Vehicle Licensing Authority.

Triggers include foods such cheese or chocolate, alcohol, exercise, lack of sleep and stress

Migraine sufferers can usually identify triggers, and keeping a diary to record when attacks happen can be helpful.
Triggers include foods such cheese or chocolate, alcohol, exercise, lack of sleep, and stress - avoiding them can reduce attacks. When attacks occur once a week or more, preventative medication, including beta blockers , antidepressants and epilepsy medication, can be prescribed.
However, particularly with epilepsy medication, there can be unpleasant side-effects such as nausea, tiredness and depression.
Some patients take supplements such as magnesium. Studies have suggested migraine patients may have low levels of the nutrient and two trials, one in Germany the other in Italy, have shown magnesium supplements helped reduce the number of migraines people suffered, although other trials have had mixed results.
Meanwhile, the nutrient co-enzyme Q10 reduced the number of migraines people experienced by 50 per cent, in a study at the University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland, while patients taking vitamin B2 (riboflavin) for a Belgian study also reported a 59 per cent drop in migraine activity.
The Migraine Trust says many studies suggest mild regular aerobic exercise can help reduce attacks. As stress is a common trigger, deep breathing exercises, yoga, acupuncture and physiotherapy are also recommended.
While Rachel's silent migraines have stopped taking over her life, she says they are of ten misunderstood.
'While I have always had good care from doctors, for a lot of people it is hard to understand aura and its impact,' she  says.
'For most people, a migraine involves a throbbing headache that lasts days. For me, the aura is always the worst symptom and while it is happening there is nothing that you can do but wait it out.'

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DEALING WITH STRESS

I came across this below today and thought I would share with you.

Dealing with Stress!

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: ”How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!

For ways to manage Stress click on the link here

 

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DO FACELIFTS MAKE MUCH DIFFERENCE?

An article I came across in the DAILY MAIL today below. I have come across a few people who have had facelifts and to be honest unless they have admitted it, I wouldn't have known. I feel many people have over expectations of the results and would agree with the article below all they seem to do is achieve a less tired, more refreshed look. Which leads me to the whole purpose of my website here how to make the best of yourself. If you feel good inside it honestly will reflect that on the outside. So before considering the knife just try the holistic way of life, having a good balanced diet, exercise, plenty of water, shade your face from the sun, give up smoking and work on your stress levels and I guarantee six months of this regime will make a difference.

How facelifts make us look younger by just three years: Study discovers how we perceive the success of plastic surgery

• New study into the effects of facelifts finds people look no more attractive
• Roughly £10,000 would be needed to look 10 years younger
• Fifty raters were shown before and after pictures of patients

Slim pickings: A study has found on average people look just three years younger

Having a facelift makes you look just three years younger - and doesn’t improve your attractiveness, claim doctors.
A unique study found plastic surgery results in a more youthful appearance, but the improvements are remarkably small.
Overall, the number of years ‘saved’ by having a full facelift or other procedures such as eyelid surgery is around three.
The more work that’s done, the younger the look, according to US and Canadian specialists.
But they failed to find any significant change in attractiveness ratings afterwards - and in Britain the cost of a clutch of cosmetic surgery procedures could top £10,000.
Dr Joshua Zimm, of the Lenox Hill Hospital and Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Institute of North Shore-LIJ Health System, New York, who led the latest study, said plastic surgeons often don’t tell prospective patients they will look younger or more attractive because of the lack of objective research.
Instead patients are told they will look ‘more refreshed’ and ‘less tired’.
But, he said, there is no doubt the explosion in facial surgery has been driven by expectations that patients will look younger, better and even have a competitive edge in the rat race at work.
However, the new study shows ‘limitations’ in what patients should expect.
‘Our data demonstrate that ageing face surgery is effective in reducing the apparent age of patients but doesn’t consistently improve a patient’s attractiveness’ he said.
The latest study, published in the journal JAMA Facial Plastic Surgery (must credit), is the first to investigate ratings of attractiveness post-surgery as well as enhanced youthfulness.

Expectations: One doctor claims the explosion in people having plastic surgery was driven by a belief they would look younger, but it comes at a huge financial cost

The study involved an assessment by 50 independent raters who examined preoperative and postoperative photographs of 49 patients, including 12 men, who underwent plastic surgery.
The patients had surgery between July 2006 and July 2010 at a private practice in Toronto, Canada, run by surgeon Peter Adamson, who took part in the study.
Patients in the study ranged in age from 42 to 73 years at the time of surgery with an average age of 57 years.
On average, the raters estimated their patients’ ages to be about 2.1 years younger than their chronological age before surgery and 5.2 years younger than their chronological age after surgery.

The average overall years saved (true age minus guessed age) following surgery was 3.1 years, with more years saved as more procedures were carried out.
To minimise bias by the raters, none was shown before and after pictures of the same patient.
Raters were also asked to rate the patient’s attractiveness on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the most unattractive and 10 being the most attractive.
There was a small, but statistically insignificant increase in attractiveness scores in post-op photographs.
Three-quarters of patients scored within the range 4-7, and the scores did not change with surgery even after allowing for patient age and procedure.
Dr Zimm said the study found a person’s perceived age conferred a certain level of attractiveness - with younger people generally gauged as being more attractive.
‘From this study, it seems the attractiveness level will remain the same, regardless of age’ he said.
‘The age reduction is more substantial when the number of surgical procedures is increased, but this did not significantly improve overall attractiveness’ he added.
Rajiv Grover, president of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons who practises at the King Edward VII Hospital in London, said the attractiveness ratings fell short using strict statistical criteria, but market research techniques would probably have found a substantial change.
He said most UK plastic surgeons would believe the study underestimated the amount of benefit gained by many patients.
He said ‘The key here is good selection. I turn away 40 to 45 per cent of potential patients because I tell them honestly I don’t think they’re going to get the results they’re after and they’ll be wasting their money.
‘If you select patients well, and they’re in the hands of a competent, experienced surgeon I would expect them to look seven, eight, even nine years younger afterwards’ he added.

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WALK AWAY STRESS

We all know how stress can affect us, loss of appetite, over eating, high blood pressure etc. I write about this all the time on this site. I also advocate how Holistic Therapies can alleviate the symptoms, but something simple such as walking can do much to lessen anxiety and costs nothing. The great thing about walking you can even meditate as you walk, you don't need to sit with your eyes closed and you can calm your mind by concentrating on the walk.

 ARTICLE FROM THE DAILY MAIL BELOW

It's official - you CAN walk away stress: Scientists discover how a stroll can soothe the brain

• Walking briskly or jogging activates soothing neurons in the brain
• These neurons help dull feelings of stress, anxiety and even depression

One of the best ways to relieve the stresses of the day is to simply walk them away, scientists have found.
Walking briskly or jogging really does calm you down by sparking nerve cells in the brain that relax the senses, new research has shown.
Exercise has long been thought to be effective for anxiety and depression, but the brain mechanism behind the phenomenon has remained a mystery.
Now tests on mice show when they are active, soothing neurons in the brain are triggered. When they are then exposed to a stressor, these neurons calm them down.

Stress relief: Scientists have found that going for a brisk walk or jog really does calm people down by triggering nerve cells in the brain that relax the senses 

Researchers took two groups of animals, one that ran around and another that was sedentary, and then tested the amount of brain cells that formed after they exercised.
The runners' brains had a number of new neurons specifically designed to inhibit brain activity and quiet more excitable ones. The researchers then put the mice into ice cold baths to create a stressful environment.
As expected, large numbers of excitable neurons were fired up in the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in emotional responses.
But in the brains of the runners, calming neurons were also quickly released warding off unnecessary anxiety.
The research shows exercising mice are able to cope better with stress, and it is believed the effect is also seen in humans, reports the Journal of Neuroscience.
Professor Elizabeth Gould, of Princeton University, New York, said physical activity reorganises the brain so anxiety is less likely to interfere with normal function.
She said: 'Understanding how the brain regulates anxious behaviour gives us potential clues about helping people with anxiety disorders.
'It also tells us something about how the brain modifies itself to respond optimally to its own environment.'

Potential treatment: Soothing neurons are activated in the brain when we walk, jog or run, which can help ease the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression 

The findings resolve a paradox because exercise reduces anxiety while also promoting the growth of new neurons in the hippocampus.
Because these young cells are typically more excitable than their more mature counterparts, exercise should result in more anxiety, not less.
But the researchers found exercise also strengthens the mechanisms that prevent these brain cells from firing.
Prof Gould said identifying neurons and regions important to anxiety regulation may help scientists better understand and treat human anxiety disorders.
From an evolutionary standpoint, the research also shows the brain can be extremely adaptive and tailor its own processes to an organism's lifestyle or surroundings.
A higher likelihood of anxious behaviour may have an adaptive advantage for less physically fit creatures.
Anxiety often manifests itself in avoidance behaviour and avoiding potentially dangerous situations would increase the likelihood of survival, particularly for those less capable of responding with a 'fight or flight' reaction, added Prof Gould.
 

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HOW TO EASE A BROKEN HEART

 

For those of you who have been in a long relationship, that has suddenly been broken up, its not uncommon to feel part of you is missing, like you have a hole in your head, like you feel empty, like you have lost an arm or leg, this is because in effect you have, for when we become very close to someone our auric field, part of it, reaches out to the aura of the other person, this happens with every close relationship, be it a member of out family or a lover. If the other person suddenly breaks the relationship off, well part of our aura is missing hence creating that 'empty feeling.
In holistic medicine disease begins in the 'spirit' first, how we feel in ourselves, that then affects the mental and emotional aspects of us, 'the mind' and this in turn affects the body. The belief in holistic medicine is if we work on the 'spirit' we can prevent disease taking root in the physical body. Holistic medicine treats the whole of the person and not a pigeon holed part of the body.
Stress, especially long term stress affects the physical body, it depletes the immune system by raising levels of damaging stress hormones, such as corticotrophic hormones and adrenaline. These hormones are fine for what they are designed for, as part of a survival mechanism for emergences only, they were never designed for long term use. More details on this can be found on the tab at the top of the page here on stress.*(STRESS AND HEALTH)

This exercise really does work as I have had excellent feedback on it

CUTTING TIES RITUAL

If you have ever experienced a broken relationship you will understand when I say it feels as if part of you is missing, this is because in effect is what has happened. When you have deep feelings for someone your auric field reaches out to that other person like a tentacle to be with them. People who are deeply in love will often say that their loved one is with them. However when that relationship breaks up suddenly it does literally, create this sensation that part of you is missing. 

This is not the same as when a relationship ends due to the other person passing over in death so do not try this ritual to get over a bereavement. Grieving is a natural process.

 

CUTTING TIES RITUAL WHEN A RELATIONSHIP HAS ENDED

There are several rituals this is the one I have used and recommend.

It is done through visualisation and can be performed as much as necessary in the passing of time, you will find you wont feel you have the need to do it.

Visualise you are standing opposite the one you wish to cut ties with

And visualise a ribbon of each associated colour with each chakra  for example red for base, orange for sacral, yellow for solar plexus, green or pink for the heart, blue for throat, indigo for third eye and purple for crown. These coloured ribbons join each of you together.

As you face one another smile and send love. at the same time visualise a pink cloud surrounding both you feet, pink is associated with love.

Now visualise a pair of ornate golden scissors cutting each ribbon in turn starting at the base chakra, as you cut each ribbon each end curls back to each person and at the same time the pink cloud rises up to obscure the other.

All the time smiling and sending them love to see them on their way. Gradually as you cut you will obscure the person you are cutting ties with and with the final tie complete you have sent them away with love to live their own life and yours.

You will have to do this a few times and every time you think of them do this visualisation, You will notice as time passes you wont think of them so much and you will be able to do the ritual quicker and easier and it will no longer hurt if your thoughts do turn to the person you are cutting ties with.

Do not do this ritual after a bereavement or when you are in an actual relationship with someone. It should only be used when the relationship is over and no longer serves a purpose. To allow you both to move on, one neither hating the other, that is why you smile and send love as you send them on their way.

 

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