Take Control of Your Life

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Your pituitary gland produces adrenal cortical stimulating hormone (ACTH) which in turn causes your adrenal cortex to produce cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone in a group of steroids called glucocorticoids which regulates blood sugar, inflammation and your immune system. Cortisol regulates metabolism and blood pressure. Some studies suggest that cortisol levels may be a predictor of fractures for older adults.
A deficiency of cortisol results in fatigue, chronic exhaustion and Addison’s disease. An overabundance of cortisol causes you to gain weight, especially around your abdomen. It also depresses your immune system and can accelerate aging and stomach ulcers.

Cortisol and Stress

An increase in any kind of stress (Physical: overexertion, trauma, infection; Environmental: heat, cold, noise; chemical: Nutritional deficiencies, refined sugar consumption, drugs; Psychological: worry, fear; or Imaginary) leads to an increase in cortisol production. All these stresses are additive and cumulative in their effect.

Cortisol and Fat

Cortisol impacts fat in two ways. Initially when the stress occurs, fat is broken down to supply the body with an immediate source of energy. You brain releases corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and puts your body on alert to the Flight or Fight response. CRH causes your pupils to dilate, your thinking to improve and your lungs to take in more oxygen. When this happens, you appetite is suppressed and your digestive system shuts down temporarily. CRH then triggers the release of adrenaline and cortisol which helps to mobilize your carbohydrate and fat supplies for quick energy.

Here’s when the problem begins – when you have overcome the stress, your adrenaline levels dissipate, but your cortisol levels remain high to bring you body back into balance. This balance is achieved by increasing your appetite to replace the carbohydrate and fat supplies that were used up when you needed them.

This whole process sounds logical – and, it worked well before the evolution of modern society. Today, you body is ‘forced’ into refueling when it doesn’t need to refuel. Sustained stress keeps your cortisol levels elevated, and causes your hunger to remain unabated. High cortisol levels keep your insulin levels elevated. High cortisol levels stimulates additional glucose production. This ‘excess’ glucose is now converted to fat and is stored as excess fat.

High levels of cortisol make you feel tired and listless. In order to compensate for being tired or exhausted, you eat to renew your energy level. How many of you had the ‘need’ for a candy bar or coke to take the edge of a temporary feeling of exhaustion? This extra fat is stored around your waistline because the cells in that part of your body are more sensitive to cortisol.

Your abdomen contains fat cells rich in stress hormone receptors. The sensitivity to cortisol makes them particularly sensitive to high levels of insulin, which, in turn, makes them very efficient for storing energy in the form of fat. This is a very dangerous place to store excess fat. It can lead to metabolic syndrome, diabetes and heart disease.

Flight or Fight Stages

The primary function of your subconscious mind is to protect you from harm and injury (real or imagined). As a result, real or perceived stress causes your adrenal glands to enlarge and secrete large amounts of adrenal cortical hormones. These hormones suppress inflammatory responses and mobilize your body’s energy reserves. In the old days, the human response was automatic to Flight or Fight. As mentioned a moment ago, your body responds initially to this first stage of Flight or Fight response by increasing your heart rate and blood pressure and causing your pupils to dilate.

Your body begins diverting its biochemical resources to survival. Self-healing is arrested, immune system is suppressed, glycogen stores in the liver and muscles are mobilized to raise blood sugar levels and digestion and assimilation are inhibited. Your stomach lining becomes thinner and ulcerated and your thymus gland and lymphatic tissue shrinks.

The second stage of the Flight of Fight response is adaptation. Your adrenal glands enlarge and release large quantities of adrenal cortical hormone. Your symptoms disappear and you begin to feel better and have the energy necessary to cope with the stress.

After an extended period of time in the adaptation stage, you will experience exhaustion. If you don’t have sufficient reserves to continue fighting the stress you will soon deplete all your body’s reserves are needed and available energy. The symptoms return and you no longer have the ability to fight it. Some people collapse in exhaustion or suffer a nervous breakdown, become dysfunctional or experience a heart attack or stroke.

The fourth stage is death if the stresses continue after stage three. Your body is no longer able to adapt, rest, regenerate and healing is arrested. Death is not far behind.

What Can You Do?

Removing yourself from these stresses is the best medicine. Eliminating the stress allows time to reverse the physiological effects. Rest and nutritional support are necessary to begin restoring your body to its original condition. Peace of mind returns as you near replenishment.

It should be noted that while in stage two, adaptation, you can actually feel or perceive no stress. Your adaptation stage has led your conscious mind to perceive that you have overcome your stress. A serious problem while in adaptation is the suppression of your immune system. You are more susceptible to colds, infections, allergies, flu, etc. and exacerbate existing diseases and maladies.
Chronically high levels of cortisol lead to the accumulation of abdominal fat and it is nearly impossible to get rid of it. A suppressed immune system can lead to additional health issues.

So, how do you control or correct your cortisol levels? Obviously, stress reduction is the most essential and effective regimen. Since stress caused your cortisol levels to rise, removing the stress shuts down the production of cortisol. Meditation, exercise, hot bath or shower, EFT, breathing exercises, improving your time management and self-hypnosis are just a few of many ways for you to control the stress in your life.

Ten to fifteen minutes of physical activity can improve your mood in the short-term and reduce stress. Work on your attitude and motivation – both are self-initiated. Find something fun to do. Listen to relaxing music or read a fun book. Work out or go walking with a friend. If you can’t gain control over your stress, you can’t expect any other support measure or therapy to work effectively. If you are exercising and finding no response to your efforts for weight loss, then you might not be doing the right kind of exercise (type, intensity, frequency, duration, etc.) Check with a physical trainer or check out the internet.

Positive thinking, positive attitude and affirmations are great options to choose to reduce stress. Negative self-talk (I’m too fat, this doesn’t work, I’ve tried this before and, I’ll never look good again, etc.) has a major impact on your ability to cope with stress. Don’t be overly diet conscious. Focus on feeding yourself balanced meals and snacks when you are hungry – the key concept here is ‘when you are hungry.’ Stop eating when you are really satisfied, not when everything is gone from your plate.

Dedicate a portion of your day to you. Ten minutes to reflect and relax about you. Do something that will revitalize you in the short-term. Give yourself a foot-rub, do a cross-word puzzle, just do something that is devoted 100% to your relaxation.
Rest is extremely important and should be used as part of your strategy to overcome stress. Diet is important also. Choose a low glycemic diet to remove a lot of the sugar that causes an increase in cortisol. A comprehensive and complete vitamin and mineral supplement is needed to help control cortisol levels. Nutritional supplements are also extremely valuable as part of your overall strategy to combat stress. Phosphatidylserine (PS) has been shown to be effective in repairing the cortisol receptors in your hypothalamus. Exceptionally high levels of cortisol have been shown to damage these receptors in your hypothalamus and reduces the ability of your hypothalamus to sense and correct high cortisone levels. PS (one to three 100 mg capsules/day) is effective for high and low levels of cortisol.

Cortisol Blockers

The jury is on both sides regarding the effectiveness and efficacy of cortisol blockers. There are many factors contributing to weight gain. Cortisol is one. Cortisol blockers may help, but they would be one tool to consider. The Federal Trade Commission has intervened to stop claims of cortisol blocker manufacturers to state that they, do, in fact, block cortisol or cause weight loss. There are so many lower cost options to address elevated cortisol that I would recommend considering this option after seeing the results of everything else you can do.

Perception

Some people can react to someone cutting in line at the grocery store or in front of you when you are driving with outrage. Others accept it without concern – just a course of life. The way you perceive stress in your life also plays a major factor in how your body will react. It’s not what happened to you, it’s how you reacted to it. How many people do you know irritate you every time you see them? Just hearing them talk, or seeing them in person puts you on alert. Why? You allowed yourself to react that way. You made that choice. The consequences of that choice is elevated levels of cortisol.

How do I know if I have the H1N1 Swine Flu?

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The H1N1 Swine Flu is a respiratory disease caused by a virus. The virus is spread from person to person in the same way that regular seasonal influenza and common colds spread. The USDA reminds consumers that all meat and poultry product are safe to eat when properly prepared and cooked.

H1N1 Swine Flu is an influenza virus causing mild to severe symptoms. The vast majority of people contracting the H1N1 Swine Flu have recovered on their own without a doctor or hospitalization. It should be noted, however, that death has occurred as a result of contracting the H1N1 Swine Flu in a few people.

The H1N1 Swine Flu has most, if not all, of the symptoms of seasonal flu. Seasonal influenza symptoms usually include fever, headache, aches and pains, fatigue, cough and chest discomfort. Sometimes you may have a runny or stuffy nose, sore throat and sneezing. The H1N1 Swine Flu has three distinct differences from seasonal flu – the symptoms may be more severe, and a significant number of cases have reported vomiting and diarrhea.

These symptoms are different from the common cold. The common cold usually has a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough and occasionally some chest discomfort. Aches and pain can occur, but are typically slight compared to the flu. It is rare to get a fever or headaches with the common cold.

To complete the comparison of symptoms – Airborne allergies usually have sneezing and runny or stuffy nose. Sometimes a sore throat and cough might occur along with fatigue. It is rare to have chest discomfort or headache with an airborne allergy. Aches, pains and fever are not considered symptoms of airborne allergies.

When should you become alarmed?  The warning signs for children with H1N1 Swine Flu include: fast or troubled breathing, bluish or gray skin color, severe or persistent vomiting, extreme difficulty waking up, not drinking enough liquids, not interacting with others, extreme irritability – not wanting to be held. You should be very conscious is the flu symptoms improve; then, fever returns quickly and the coughing worsens.

The warning signs in adults are similar and include some additional symptoms such as: difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, pain or pressure in your chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion, and severe or persistent vomiting. As with children, adults may show improvement and a sudden return of fever and increased coughing.

The H1N1 Swine Flu, just like the common cold and airborne allergies can be slight, mild or severe. Everyone reacts differently. 70% of the patients hospitalized with the H1N1 Swine Flu have had one or more medical conditions that placed them in the ‘high risk’ category. High risk includes: pregnancy, diabetes, heart disease, asthma and kidney disease.

Take an inventory of your symptoms to see if you have influenza, common cold or an airborne allergy.  Knowing what you have makes it easier for you to treat.  The severity of the influenza symptoms could mean that you might have the H1N1 Swine Flu.