2009 April
Stress & Heart Health
What happens to the heart during stress?
During a stress or anger response, the body’s sympathetic nervous system (SNS) is stimulated and the hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine, are released. These hormones cause the heart rate to increase and the demands for oxygen to heighten. When the delivery of oxygen to heart tissue is temporarily unmet, symptoms such as chest pain (angina) can result. In response to the SNS and the growing oxygen demands, the blood vessels constrict; this constriction in turn leads to elevated blood pressure levels. Chronically elevated blood pressure injures and damages blood vessel walls integrity. In an effort to repair themselves, the arteries may thicken, leading to increased susceptibility of plaque formation. Furthermore, stress increases clotting factors in your blood which results in higher risks of blood clot formation and artery blockage.
Detox Diet
Air fresheners and household cleaners. Food preservatives and colors. Medications. Car exhaust fumes. Cigarette smoke. These products and more have become apart of our Westernized lifestyle. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, we are exposed to tens of thousands of chemicals and contaminates on a daily basis. These harmful toxics are present in the air we breathe, the food we ingest, and the water we consume. Overtime the operation of our body’s organ systems can become sluggish leading to slower metabolic rates, fatigue, reduced immunity, and perhaps even significant health concerns. So as you complete your taxes and spend the weekend spring cleaning the house, you may want to consider adding a detoxification diet to your to-do list.
