Testing It Up

Stress is often blamed for a wide range of health issues many of us experience, such as back pains, insomnia, worsening skin conditions like eczema and acne, heart disease, digestive problems, and  memory impairment. For some epilepsy patients,  stress may be all it takes to cause a seizure, according to researchers from the University of Cincinnati.

“One of the things we often hear is that a lot of epilepsy patients feel their seizures are affected by stress . . . but no one had really looked at their [brain response] or other elements of their physiological response,” said study author Jane Allendorfer, an instructor of neurology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She was working at the University of Cincinnati at the time the study was conducted, the HealthDay reports.

The study involved two groups of epilepsy patients — one group consists of 16 patients who considered stress as a factor in their seizure control and the other group consists of 7 patients who did not associate their seizure with stress. All participants were initially given simple subtraction problems to solve and then a “stress task” during which they performed difficult subtraction. Participants were also given positive feedback during the easier portion and negative feedback during the difficult section regardless of how well they were actually performing.

Through MRI brain scans, the researchers observed greater brain activation on those who perceived stress to have an impact on their epilepsy, while no such brain activation was noted on the other group.

Dr. Steven Pacia, director of the Epilepsy Center and the division of neurology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City who was not involved in the study, said the researchers’ finding reflect what he hears from patients.

“Everyone who treats a lot of seizure patients knows that a good proportion blame stress for any breakthrough seizures they’re having — even when they’re taking their medications, even when they’re not sleep-deprived,” Dr. Pacia added. “This study is the first to truly show there might be some activation issue in the brain that’s different in patients who report this problem. I think we all know that telling patients to reduce their stress to reduce seizures is a good thing to do.”

Stress is a common phenomenon in modern life. Every day, people are greeted with deadlines, hassles, frustrations, and demands that often results to health complaints, such as headaches, fatigue, irritability, anxiety, and even depression. While a small amount of stress is good, chronic stress can lead to serious health consequences if not addressed. If listening to relaxing music or watching happy movies no longer seem to work for you, here are additional stress busters that can work wonders in your already busy life.

Indulge in Garlic Bread
A lot of people, when stressed, usually go for a cup of steaming coffee or tea, but studies at Chicago’s Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation reveal that the aroma and flavor of warm garlic bread can help lessen stress levels by as much as 39 percent. According to lead researcher Alan Hirsch, M.D., who is also the author of What Flavor is Your Personality?, garlic’s essential oils stimulate the olfactory nerve which then signals the brain to produce less stress hormones, adrenalin and cortisol.

Sniff Coconut Scent
A small study at Columbia University examined people who breathed in coconut fragrance and found the participants’ blood pressure recover more quickly after a demanding task. The researchers theorized that inhaling a pleasant scent, as that of coconut aroma, can improve alertness while at the same time soothing people’s response to stress.

Get Your Regular Dose of Vitamins B and C
Vitamins B and C are found to help regulate the mood. You can get them either from supplements or food, such as red berries, kiwi, tomatoes, broccoli, milk, cheese, potatoes, bananas, fish, eggs, spinach, fortified cereals, and green leafy vegetables — to name a few.

The effects of stress on health are varied and can be debilitating in the long run. You may not probably notice the symptoms at first, but you will soon if you continue exposing yourself to stressful situations. Though a small amount of stress can be a motivating factor in helping you finish a pressing deadline, too much of it puts you at greater risk of health problems.

Immune System. Chronic stress weakens your immune system and when that happens, you’re prone to pick up infections. Colds, sinus infections, and vaginal yeast infection are only some of the diseases that are blamed on stress.

Fatigue and Tension Headache. Ever wonder why you seem to experience muscle pains even when you haven’t done aerobics or any physical challenges lately? Stress could be the only culprit there is. People who are always under pressure or working on a stressful job are very likely to experience fatigue and complain of various muscle pains. The pain signals you to stop and take notice. And because stress can also cause the blood vessels in the head region to constrict, your chances of experiencing tension headache is also very high. If you don’t pay attention, it could also trigger migraine.

Sleep Patterns. Stress interferes with normal sleep patterns. When you’re stressed you will find it more difficult to sleep or you may even wake up earlier than normal. As a result, you become more cranky, agitated, and unable to concentrate at work or in school.

Severe Health Conditions. The last thing you’d want to happen is to find out you’re suffering from heart diseases, diabetes mellitus, or even obesity. Unfortunately, stress can trigger all of these health problems. Chronic stress can cause elevated blood pressure, chronic muscle tension, and low immune system which can eventually lead to life-threatening conditions like heart attacks, kidney disease, and cancer.