Stress the Silent Killer

Stress is known as the Silent Killer.  It is very much like a contract killer. You may not even know it’s there; but worrying about it is only going to make the kill more swiftly.

There are precautions one can take to help prevent stress, but often prevention is not as easy as learning to manage it.  First we need to know how high our risk.

Recent studies of both Type A and Type B personalities show that Type A personalities suffer more health issues and death than their Type B counterparts. 

How many Type A’s do we have out there?

How many Type B’s?

How many don’t know?

I think I’m safe saying if you don’t know, you are a Type B.  Because if you are a Type A you’re probably already suffering from the consequences of having that stressful type of personality.  According to the National Women’s Health Information Center (NWHIC), stress causes consequences like:

·                trouble sleeping

·                headaches

·                lack of energy

·                eating too much or not at all

·                irritability

·                anger

·                sadness

·                anxiety

·                depression

·                IBS

·                back pain

·                less sexual desire

As if these aren’t annoying enough, stress can also cause more serious health issues like:

·                high blood pressure

·                higher risk of asthma

·                arthritis flare ups

·                diabetes

·                heart problems

These are not limited to women, so you men out there can’t give a sigh of relief.  Stress is serious business, and it can also cause death.  You heard me right, stress can kill you.  That is why it is called the silent killer.

Some of the information I’ve found while researching this topic stated stress is not only a major health problem, but a work issue to.  It is said that stress may be responsible for more than half of the 550 million workdays lost annually.   Imagine the cost in sick time to businesses.  In fact, some very perceptive employers with high stress businesses allow for stress-time off from work.  Many also provide stress management programs for their employees.

I guess you see stress can be more serious than someone saying they are “a little burned out.”  A little burned out may be just the warning signs of a major problem ahead.

Not everyone can afford to quit their job to save their health.  And many are not fortunate enough to work for companies with the wisdom to provide stress management programs for their employees.   No matter what your situation, I suggest you seriously consider some of the suggestions I’m about to make.

Learn to Prioritize

Look at your job and your personal life.  List the things you have been doing and decide which are the most important.  Weed out the things you really don’t have to do.  Learn to delegate when you can and completely drop what you can.

For most of you family is your priority, but you have to work to support your family in the lifestyle they are accustomed.  If this is the case, you may have to consider a different lifestyle.  What’s important is that you are there for them in the long run of life.

Learn to say “No!”

I have to add you need to say “no” and mean it.  If someone is asking you to add more to your already tumbling over pile of things to do and you give them anything that sounds remotely like a “maybe,” they’ll move right in like hungry vultures ready for a feast.

No matter how good the task seems, how worthwhile the project, how much you may seem to be perfect for the job, if it is not on your highest priority list, stick to your guns and say “No!”  Remember, your life may depend on it.

Get Enough Rest

There are people who say they are used to getting only four hours a night sleep.  Over the long haul this is going to catch up to them.  I say everyone should try to get six to eight hours of sleep a night.  Some people may even need more.

Vacation

It has been said that American’s have accumulated more unused vacation time than nearly any other nation.  Okay, I know many people say they are more tired when they get back from vacation than before they left.  I say use your vacation wisely, taking time to get plenty of relaxation.  But do take it!

Eat Right

We are eating on the run, living on drive through food or some cardboard thing that comes in a wrapper.  Or worse, some sweet, delicious thing that comes in a wrapper -- after all doesn’t it give us more energy?

Slow down and take the time to eat at least one nourishing meal a day.  Forget working lunches unless it can’t be avoided.  Opt for a brief break to have an apple and some yogurt or some lean meat on whole grain bread.

Get Exercise

Exercise is not just recommended for weight management and good health, it is a proven stress reliever.  Take time out of your day to walk or go to the gym.  If you feel this is only adding to your already busy schedule, find other ways to fit it into your schedule.  Take the stairs instead of the elevator.  Park your car at the far end of the parking lot.

Meditate

While Yoga is a great way to help relieve stress, if you don’t know anything about Yoga, adding a class to your schedule may seem like defeating your purpose.  However it can be very worthwhile.  Once you learn the techniques of Yoga you can fit it into your schedule fairly easily.

If you don’t want to go so far as to take Yoga at least learn to meditate.  Take deep breaths, hold them, and then release them slowly.  In through the nose, out through the mouth.  Envision yourself someplace peaceful, not on to your next job or what you plan to do when you get home.  I’m talking more like a blanket on the beach or even a floaty in the pool.

The point is to bring peace into your hectic life.

Read

Do you have a special novel or magazine you’ve been wanting to read?  Take the time to read it.  Don’t let your stack of reading bury you!  If you have a huge stack you are likely again putting off something relaxing for yourself.  Make time to read and you may just find yourself relaxing in the process.

Find a Hobby

Yes, this may also seem like adding one more thing to your to-do list, but a hobby can be very relaxing.  It may be something you keep thinking you’d like to do but never take the time.  It can be as sedate as reading more or doing ceramics.  Or, as wild as a paint ball war with friends.          

And that brings me to the final bit of advice I am going to share.

Friends

Never underestimate the value of a good friend.  Or several good friends.  Sometimes just sitting down and sharing with one another can be the biggest step to overcoming some of the stress in your life.  Sharing can help reduce the feeling of being alone.  At the same time your friends may be going through the same thing.  Your time together griping, commiserating, talking about old times, or just telling jokes can be great balm to a stress-filled life.

There is a lot more information available about stress and stress management.  I’ve only touched the surface.  But I do hope if you are one of those “Type A’s” or even someone who is just feeling a little burned out, you will give some of these thing

Find out where you stand by taking this stress test.

Health is not General

I thought about my title being “Health in General,” but realized there is nothing general about it.  It is not a one size fits all. Health, or lack of it, is very specific, from the individual to the family surrounding the individual, to the health care professionals who treat the individual.

I might also add that includes the cost of staying or getting healthy. A few months ago my mother went to the emergency room. She told me her bill for just going through the door was over $10,000. Wow! Praise God she has insurance and only has to pay a small portion of that bill.

I also went to the emergency room recently. I hate to see what my bill was since I was actually admitted and had to stay in the hospital for two nights.  I’m betting we would be able to pay off every bill we have with the cost of that illness. Again, thank God for insurance.

I have a friend whose husband has been in the hospital for four weeks. I think you know where I’m going with this. I have no idea what kind of insurance they have, but I will say I hope if they have insurance there is not a cap on it.

Wait, did they do away with caps on insurance?  I need to check that out. After all, my father reached the cap on two insurance policies in his lifetime. I seem to be following in his footsteps, it would be good for me to know.

Now that I’ve vented on the cost of staying or getting healthy, let me discuss my concerns over health in general.  Oops, I did say health is not general. Allow me one generalized statement.

Are we generally less healthy than we used to be? Or, do we just have more illnesses to content with? Or, another possibility, do we have more ways to regain our health or prolong our lives when we have potentially life-threatening diseases?

Those are a few questions for which I have no answers.  I could also add the fact that I’m getting older, as are the members of my family and group of friends. Is that what is playing a role in the fact that health issues seem to be touching the lives of nearly everyone I know.

I myself have diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, and incurable back issues. I’m not asking for sympathy, what I’m saying is that these issues are nothing compared to what many others are facing.

I have a good friend with Reflex Sympathetic Disease, RSD, and another with Multiple Sclerosis, MS. I have a few family members and friends with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, CFS, and Fibromyalgia. My husband is about to have his sixth, or is it seventh, arthroscopic knee surgery for tears in the meniscus.

In the last few months I might not be able to count the number of people who have told me they have vertigo. I have even had attacks of vertigo, though it has not been diagnosed because the doctor just told me to go to the hospital. I stubbornly refused, not wanting the medical bill since we currently have a high deductible to pay. But since I’m off the subject of the cost of health care I will say no more on that.

My father had heart disease, as does my cousin. Though gone now, my father survived a long time due to the technology available.  For years he had a pacemaker and eventually a defibrillator implanted for his heart. My cousin also has both.

Then there is my friend’s husband in the hospital for four weeks after being admitted for a blood clot. Ten surgeries later he is no closer to getting well, and they are waiting for a miracle.  Which brings me to the toll of medical issues on family.

While one family sits praying by a man’s bedside, another takes in a mother while she recuperates from surgery. One woman fortunately has an elderly sister to help look after her when she can’t stand or walk because of vertigo. While someone misses work due to their illness, others pick up the load, not always happy with the situation, making it all the more stressful when that person returns to the job.

In my case, I recently had surgery to implant a neurostimulator in my spine to help with the debilitating pain I get when walking or standing too long. I chose this option as part of a plan to regain my health. If the stimulator works as I anticipate, I will be able to be more active because I’ll be relatively pain free. If I can be more active I can lose weight, since diet alone has not made a lot of difference. If I lose weight I anticipate being able to get off some of my expensive medications.

As you see, there is a lot of anticipation going on in our house. What if what I anticipate doesn’t happen? I guess I will be no worse off than any of the other people I’ve mentioned.  Or, the many more out there I don’t know, but read about on Facebook.

So, back to my original questions: Are we generally less healthy than we used to be? Or, do we just have more illnesses to content with? Or, another possibility, do we have more ways to regain our health or prolong our lives when we have potentially life-threatening diseases?

Or, as I also wondered, is the fastest growing population of people just getting older and suffering the perils of aging?

What do you think? 

You can read more of my blogs at:

Our Relationship with Others 

Reflections of Pam

Pam's Writing Basics