High Blood Pressure - Physiological Effects of Stress
There is clear scientific proof that the body makes significant physiological adjustments when stress presents itself. The Sympathetic Nervous System is attributed to be the controller with high blood pressure (or hypertension) usually being one of the changes.
The body initialises a stress response by the Sympathetic Nervous System automatically triggering the Adrenal Glands to produce chemical agents collectively called catecholamines.
We have all heard of adrenaline, well, it the most well known of these so called 'fight or flight' hormones, which when secreted in to the blood prepares the body for emergencies, which one would either be brave enough to square up to and fight, or sharper in making one's escape in the interest of safety.
First of all, the action of these hormones begin wholesale shifts in the body's blood quality and distribution. The 'adrenaline rush' causes more blood to be diverted to the major organs such as the heart, the kidneys, and the brain.
From where is this blood diverted?
The short answer is the skin; for it is the largest organ of all accounting for hundreds of millions of cells which all need to be continuously replenished with blood.
In the face of danger, the Sympathetic Nervous System deduces that the skin is less in need of blood than the other major organs and muscles, and sets about constricting the tiny blood vessels that supply the skin with blood. It is not unusual for the skin to feel cold and even to change to a much paler colour at these times. This action alone is a cause of high blood pressure.
To the heart, the increase in blood flow has the effect of increasing the heart rate. One can visibly see and feel the heart pumping more vigorously and quickly by the movements of our chest and abdomen. This increased heart activity is also accompanied by a rise in breathing rate by the lung's enrichment of the blood with oxygen. This makes the blood a more potent reactant at the points of metabolism.
So where is this enriched increased supply of blood most needed?
Well, apart from the organs mentioned above, it is to the major muscles in the arms and the legs. These are amongst the body's strongest muscles that are actually attached to the skeleton. Because they are voluntary muscles, the arms and legs are able to move at will by nervous stimulations.
In animals, these equivalent muscles would be the red meat that one would see on a butcher's block.
The extra blood (and hence oxygen) diverted to these major muscles causes a greater metabolism capacity in them, girding them with extra strength for the task at hand. One would expect to physically use these limbs in most 'fight or flight' encounters.
The brain also has increased blood and oxygen as it goes about sharpening one's vision, hearing and sense of smell. The pupils become dilated, which although causes heightened vision, can also reduce one's peripheral vision.
One may recall having been in situations of being visually unaware of things in the normal visual peripheral zone whilst concentrating on a particular thing.
It is not possible to mention in this brief writing the myriad of changes that are induced by the brain's activity in the face of stress.
For instance, one's voice may acquire an audible tremor; the hair follicles are known to contract giving the feeling of one's hair standing on end; profuse sweating in the palms and the forehead may occur; because the brain is processing everything so much faster one may get the sensation that things are happening slowly; one may feel nauseous; one's bowels may loosen giving sudden urges to go to the toilet; …..and so it goes on and on…….
There is a further aspect of blood quality to consider. With the body girding itself for apparent eminent danger as it were, it also gets ready for the incidence of injury. Blood is further enriched with platelets.
Platelets are the sticky particles suspended in blood plasma, responsible for clotting and repair when blood vessels are severed. They quickly come together at the site of a cut and stop leaking from the blood vessels. The problem is, even when there is no injuries to speak of, the increase presence of platelets can cause clots to form in the blood anyway, which could get haphazardly lodged in, and cause blockages in important arteries.
With respect to high blood pressure, the most significant physiological changes would be the constriction of muscles in the blood vessels. We have already mentioned that this is likely to extensively occur in the skin, but it also occurs in major arteries such as the coronary arteries as well.
The blood vessels have a muscular middle layer that works in unison with the heart impulses to pump blood through them to the peripherals of the body. Stress tends to send these arterial muscles into a state of constriction, effectively narrowing their internal widths, which consequently cause high blood pressure.
by Bilal Rose, Author in Medicationless Side-Effectless High Blood Pressure / Hypertension Management
Are You Willing To Follow Eight Yoga Exercises For the Lower Back?
EXERCISES FOR BACK RELIEF
Many people believe that rest is best for a painful back, but actually, what your back really needs when it’s hurt is exercise. Regular exercise relieves back pain by strengthening and stretching the muscles that support the spine and helps to prevent future injury. This is a use it or lose it situation: the more you rest, the weaker your back gets, even if it is hurt. Studies have actually shown that you can heal your back pain faster and get back to your regular activities with just two days of rest. This article will focus on Yoga Exercises. Remember to contact your doctor before beginning any exercise program.
YOGA EXERCISES FOR YOUR BACK
A good, regular yoga practice will go far in relieving the stress and tension that sometimes cause mild back pain, and in fact, studies have shown that yoga is the number one most effective exercise for relieving back pain. However, not all yoga poses relieve back pain, and some can in fact aggravate existing pain, so it is important to know which poses will be most helpful in relieving back pain. It is best to do these exercises under the supervision of a certified yoga instructor, and if you encounter any problems with these poses, you should consult an expert. Even just one or two sessions with a yoga instructor can help, as an instructor will help you with your form and posture during poses. Here are some of the best yoga poses for relieving back pain. Each pose should be held from five to ten seconds, depending upon your level of comfort, and should be done on a mat or other soft, supportive surface.
CORPSE:
Lie flat on your back in a relaxed position, arms resting at your sides, palms down, and legs lying naturally, with knees turned out slightly. If it hurts your back to have your knees turned outward, do this pose with knees bent, feet flat on the floor. Breathe in and out for a few seconds while allowing any tension to leave the body.
CAT STRETCH:
Start out on your hands and knees with a flat back. Your hands should be directly under your shoulders with fingers spread. Knees should be directly under the hips. Head is held loosely so that you are looking at the floor between your hands. Inhale, and as you exhale, arch your back toward the ceiling, tuck your chin in to your chest so that you are looking at your navel, and tuck your tailbone underneath. Hold, then release back into your original position.
WIND-RELEASING POSE:
Lie flat on your back as in Corpse pose. As you inhale, bend your knee, place your hands right below the knee, and draw your leg towards your chest. Your left leg should remain flat on the floor. Exhale and bring your forehead up to touch your knee. Inhale, and then as you exhale, return to your original position. Repeat with the other leg.
SAGE TWIST:
Warning for this pose—it involves twisting your back, so you should take particular care not to twist too far or you risk aggravating any existing back pain. This should be a gentle stretch; twist just as far as is comfortable. Sit on the floor with both legs out in front of you. Bend your right knee, lift your right leg over your left, and place your right foot on the floor next to your left knee. Sitting with spine straight, place your left elbow on the right side of your right knee. Bend your left arm so that your left fingertips are touching your right hip, while at the same time, twisting to look over your right shoulder. This is where you need to be careful not to twist too far. Hold for a few seconds, release, and repeat on the opposite side.
PALM TREE:
Stand with feet facing forward, arms at your sides, weight distributed evenly on both feet. Raise both arms over your head, interlock your fingers, and turn your hands so that your palms are facing upward. Next, place your palms on your head and turn your head so that you are looking slightly upward. Stretch your arms upwards, and at the same time, come up onto your toes if you can do so without pain. Stretch your entire body upward and hold, if you can. Some people have difficulty balancing during this pose, so just do the stretching part if you need to.
FISH POSE:
Lie on your back with knees bent and arms at your side. Arch your back as far as you comfortably can and raise it off the ground by pushing the floor with your elbows. If you can, tilt your head backwards and rest the crown of your head on the floor. Breathe deeply from the diaphragm and hold pose for one minute if you can.
LOCUST:
Lie face down with arms at the side, palms down, and elbows slightly bent with fingers pointing towards the feet. Raise your legs and thighs as high off the ground as possible without causing your back any pain. Hold for one second and repeat up to twelve times. This can be a vigorous exercise so you must take care to strain already injured muscles.
BENDING FORWARD POSTURE:
Stand up straight with feet together and arms hanging loosely along your sides. Breathe in deeply and raise your arms straight above your head. While breathing out, bend forward and touch your toes if you can. If you can’t reach your toes, grab hold of your ankles or calves. To complete the pose, you should touch your head to your knees, but this may be too difficult for many who suffer from lower back pain. Your movements during this pose should be smooth, not jerky.
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