Issue Date: October 19, 2008
Are you stressed?
Think of the stress/body connection as a tea kettle filled with water. The kettle sits quietly on the stove until the heat is turned up. As the water temperature rises, pressure builds inside the kettle. Over time, the pressure inside exceeds the ability of the lid to hold it. Fortunately for the kettle, there's a whistle to let us know when it's had enough.
Stress can lead stealthily to high blood pressure.
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Our body may not have a whistle, but it still tries to tell us when the pressure is too high. We can learn to identify such signals, which vary from person to person.
For some, stress manifests itself as indigestion, diarrhea, headaches, insomnia, fatigue or diminished sex drive. For others, stress expresses itself in irritability and even anger. An inability to concentrate, lack of focus, crying spells, loss of interest in hobbies -- all could represent chronic stress. Finally, stress can be silent, stealthily stealing your health. A person under stress may not "feel" that his blood pressure is elevated, but it will be dangerous nonetheless.
If you would describe your life as chronically hectic, don't assume that you're immune to the effects of stress. Take a few moments to evaluate and listen to your body. Ask those around you if they've picked up on changes in your demeanor or personality. If so, your kettle may be whistling, and it's time to visit your doctor.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and CEO of Dallas' Cooper Clinic (www.cooperaerobics.com), writes HealthSmart every week.
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