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MY STRESS HORMONES ARE KILLING ME

STRESS HORMONES

Today, everything seems to be stressful. We’ve just gotten through the 15-month lockdown that left us experiencing collective trauma. Things are open. At last. But there are jobs lost, new rules of doing business, new rules of dating, new rules of living, actually. Masks are off. But will they stay there? Do we shake hands yet? Can we hug strangers? 2 in 3 adults say that the number of issues we’re facing is overwhelming to them. Wired, keyed up, agitated…it can really take a bite out of your health. But thankfully we have stress hormones.

THE SABRE-TOOTHED TIGER EFFECT

Before we go any further, let’s debunk one myth; stress is not necessarily always a bad thing. Without our body’s brilliant ability to feel stress, humankind wouldn’t have survived. Just ask our cavemen ancestors. Stress was what alerted them to potential dangers like the long terrifying canines of a ferocious saber-tooth tiger. When stressed, the body thinks it is under attack and switches to ‘fight or flight’ mode, releasing a complex mix of hormones and chemicals to prepare the body for physical action. Through the release of these hormones, caveman gained a rush of energy, which prepared him to either fight the tiger or run away. If he just froze, he’d become a great dinner. We haven’t had to face these beasts in, oh, 10,000 years or so, but even encountering a large Pitbull barking at you on your morning run can set the stress response off just as much.

AND ON AND ON AND ON IT GOES…

There are two types of stress; acute, and chronic.  Acute stress is one of the least damaging types of stress, which is good because it is also the most common type. We experience acute stress multiple times throughout the day. Acute stress is experienced as an immediate perceived threat, either physical, emotional, or psychological. These threats don’t even need to be intensely threatening—you’ve lost your phone, you’ve fought with your partner, you’ve felt restrained road rage during killer traffic jams. Which are back again post-Covid. Chronic stress occurs when the body experiences stressors with such frequency or intensity that the autonomic nervous system does not have an adequate chance to activate the relaxation response on a regular basis. This means that the body remains in a constant state of physiological arousal. Trouble is, we just weren’t built to maintain high levels of stress for any prolonged time. This affects virtually every system in the body, either directly or indirectly.

HIGH STRUNG STRESS HORMONES

Remember that cocktail of hormones we spoke of that are part of the stress response? Cortisol, adrenaline, norepinephrine, and insulin are all work together to prepare you for stressful situations. They raise your heart rate, blood pressure, and energy supplies so that you become more awake, focused, and generally more responsive. They also help shift blood flow away from areas where it might not be so crucial, like the skin, and toward more essential areas at the time, like the muscles, so you can flee the stressful scene. If one hormone doesn’t have your back, another does.

IF THIS DOESN’T STRESS YOU OUT, WHAT WILL?

There is absolutely nothing good about chronic stress. Nothing. Just look at all it can lead to:

  • Weakened immune system
  • Raised blood pressure
  • Digestive issues
  • Food cravings and weight gain
  • Sleep apnea
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Cognitive and memory problems
  • Accelerated aging process
  • Skin conditions such as eczema
  • Heart disease
  • Yikes!

FROM DISTRESS TO DE-STRESS

When it comes to stress tolerance, we’re all different. Some people seem to be able to roll with life’s punches…” I’ve got this”, “no biggie”, “things could be worse”, “someday I’ll laugh about all this”. Other people crumble. Their stress hormones are in a constant misfire, and no amount of “think positively, take deep breaths, smell a rose or try goat yoga”, is going to help. The help they need is balancing their hormones. And the best place to do that is at Denver Hormone Health. Denver Hormone Health has years of advanced training and experience in treating people of all ages for hormones imbalances that could happen for any number of reasons. Like stress. DHH knows all too well the stressors that could be in your everyday life, and you can feel comfortable discussing it all with their caring experts. Even though the country is finally opening up, Covid and the stress of the last 15 months could still be with you. Causing you stress on top of any other stress that could be dragging your health down. Start feeling the best you’ve felt in a long time. Call Denver Hormone Health for an appointment now.

STRESS AND HORMONES; EVERYTHING TO FEAR FROM FEAR ITSELF

Who on this planet doesn’t experience stress in their lives? You worry about losing your job. Missing deadlines. Caring for your family. Losing a relationship. Getting sick. In today’s 100-mile-an-hour world, the list is endless.  You suffer from anxiety. Panic attacks loom. Your hearts race, your palms sweat, you shake and even feel like you could pass out. Yikes. It’s scary. And not the kind of scary that makes movies like Us and It become mega box office hits. Well the real scare is how these feelings of terror can create hormone imbalances that can throw your whole life out of balance.

WHEN IT GOES BEYOND “FIGHT OR FLIGHT” YOU’RE IN FOR A REAL BATTLE

You’ve probably heard the expression “fight or flight”, but do you really know what it means? This is the stress response action that happens when you feel threatened or truly scared. When this happens, the body releases several stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline into the bloodstream. These hormones increase your strength, concentration, and ability to react. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase, and your immune system and memory are sharper. After you have dealt with the short-term stress, your body returns to normal. Chronic or long-term stress, however, poses a problem. If you frequently face challenges, your body is constantly producing higher levels of stress hormones and does not have time to recover. These hormones over time can cause serious health problems.

CORTISOL; PUBLIC STRESS ENEMY NO. 1

Excess cortisol is often hard to diagnose as symptoms usually develop slowly and often overlap with many other conditions. Conditions your primary doctor could prescribe the wrong treatment for. These include:

  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Weight gain
  • Back pain
  • Thin skin
  • Decreased concentration
  • Swelling in the hands and feet
  • Low libido
  • Acne
  • Impaired memory (especially short-term memory)
  • Female facial hair or female balding
  • Insomnia
  • Poor skin healing
  • Irritability
  • Menstrual abnormalities
  • Increased blood sugar
  •  Decreased bone mineral density
  • High blood pressure
  • Easy bruising
  • Muscle wasting and weakness of arms and legs

Talk about high anxiety…

STRESS AND HORMONES; MEDITATE ON THIS:

Unless you’re the king or queen of Zen, stress is bound to take a serious stab at your health. Yes, following a diet higher in lean protein and fiber and lower in carbohydrates that have a high glycemic index (especially sugar) can partially lowering cortisol levels, as well as the regular practice of relaxation or mind-body techniques such as meditation or progressive muscle relaxation. All things considered, how realistic is that? You could try supplementing your diet with natural compounds such as phosphatidylserine, magnolia bark extract, and ashwagandha root. Oh yeah, you’re going to run out and try that. And do they really do the job? Simple answer? No way. So what can you do? Here’s where we can actually say, “relax”. The hormone professionals at Denver Hormone Health are uniquely expert in diagnosing hormone imbalances and getting them back to the levels they need to be for your body (and mind) to function at its optimal best. Simple tests will tell them if your cortisol has shot into hyperdrive, dragging your health and well-being behind. Then they are able to create a treatment plan tailored to your individual needs. In your whirlwind of a life, take just a few minutes to call and make an appointment at Denver Hormone Health now. They’re experienced, they care and they take you through the entire process nice and easy. How stress-free is that?

THE SIDE EFFECTS OF LIFE – Stress!

11-15-stress-blogTHE DAILY GRIND

There’s no getting away from it.  Stress is around you day and night. 44% of adults report that their stress level has increased in the past 5 years. Although there are stressors almost all people feel, they change from person to person and situation to situation. Take a minute and try to list the top 20 stressors in your life. I’m sure your list will go on and on.  More than 54% of people are seriously concerned over the issue.

IT’S NOT ALL IN YOUR HEAD

There are two types of stress. One is internal and makes you feel like you’re going bonkers. These thoughts come from psychological or emotional feelings, like being depressed or worried, or putting pressure on yourself to be perfect. Sometimes even the little things, like daily chores, feeling unattractive or even gaining weight can seriously stress you out.

Other stressors come from external factors, which are forces that you can’t easily control. Examples are a major life event, like worrying about finances, the state of the world, the safety of your kids, and the security of your job. Internal and external stressors can have the same physical and psychological effects. You may have trouble sleeping, lose your appetite or lose interest in daily activities. You may be irritable, have headaches, stomach pains or find that you cry easily. Both external and internal stress can be short term or long term.

WHEN IT ALL GOES HAYWIRE

Stress in any form can have negative effects on your body including:

  • Increased or constant anxiety
  • Compromised immune system
  • Endurance & strength
  • Weight & body fat
  • Sexual performance
  • Sex Drive and motivation
  • Blood pressure
  • Skin & wrinkles
  • Memory
  • Depression & low mood
  • Body composition
  • Metabolism
  • Cholesterol LDL/HDL
  • Mental Clarity & focus
  • Anti-Aging
  • Menopause & andropause

THE CORTISOL CONNECTION

Cortisol which is produced by the adrenal glads, is often called the “stress hormone” because of its connection to the stress response. However, cortisol is much more than just a hormone released during stress. The benefits of cortisol include blood pressure management, reduced inflammation and a stronger immune system. This stress-fighting hormone converts protein into fuel when you’re under physical or psychological stress evoked by traumatic events.

Cortisol can help control blood sugar levels, regulate metabolism, help reduce inflammation and assist with memory formulation. It has a controlling effect on salt and water balance and helps control blood pressure. It can help prevent and resolve all of the problems listed here. All of the amazing functions it controls make cortisol a hormone essential to protect overall health and well being.

It is very important to know your adrenal/cortisol status which can be determined with a laboratory and medical evaluation.

OH YEAH, TRY THIS

There are people who are told there are other ways to combat stress, no matter the severity of it. They are told to relax, take biofeedback, and eat better. Learn yoga, practice mindfulness and exercise to name a few. There’s the use of passionflower, music, massage, (sure, we can all afford that), limited cell phone and internet, self-hypnosis, sex, hugging, pets, chewing gum, guided visualization, art therapy and gratitude journals. To name a few. Ask how many people follow these suggestions on a regular basis. Uh, not many. Nice thoughts. Just not permanent solutions.

WANT A WAY TO AVOID ALL THIS STRESS AND RELIEVE ITS SYMPTOMS? IT STARTS WITH A CALL TO DENVER HORMONE HEALTH AND AN APPOINTMENT TO SEE STEPHEN GOLDSTEIN M.D.. DR. GOLDSTEIN HAS SPENT YEARS RESEARCHING AND LEARNING ABOUT STRESS AND ITS NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE BODY. WITH SIMPLE TESTS, DR. GOLDSTEIN CAN ASSESS HOW MUCH YOUR HORMONE BALANCE IS OUT OF WHACK AND WHAT VITAMIN DEFICIENCIES YOU MIGHT HAVE THAT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO YOUR PROBLEMS. IT’S ABOUT AS STRESSLESS AS IT GETS.

SO CALL NOW OR REQUEST MORE INFORMATION.