| stress management | ARTICLE
His sleeping habits did not improve as he works night shifts. subject 12 was an older
Stress is a common term that is often associated with negative
female taking five medications for arthritis (celecoxib), blood pressure (amlodipine), cholesterol (rosuvastatin), sleeping (lorazepam), and gOrD (esomeprazole). after using the Biomat for 3 months and avoiding acidic foods, she lost 20 lb, felt much better, and had stopped her medication. Her physician was pleased with her fast progress and positive outlook.
situations and settings. yet, a stress-free life may also be harmful, because an individual will lose his/her ability to react to different challenges.
normally, cortisol levels
rise during the early morning hours and are highest at approximately 7 am. they drop very low in the evening and during the early phase of sleep. However, if the patient sleeps during the day and
Discussion From the case studies, it is clear that the 12 subjects received an average of 78% improvement in stress reduction, better sleep, less cortisol and overall improvement — particularly when they also changed their lifestyle habits. the test results from the biofeedback devices correlated well with each other, as well as with the cortisol blood test
results. the
cortisol level may show problems with the adrenal or pituitary glands. Cortisol is made by the adrenal gland, but levels may increase when the pituitary gland releases another hormone, adrenocorticotropic hormone (aCtH). Cortisol has many functions. It helps
the body use sugar (glucose) and fat for energy, and it helps the body to manage stress. Cortisol levels can be affected by many conditions, such as physical or emotional stress, strenuous activity, infection, or injury.
is awake at night, this pattern may be reversed. Cortisol regulates energy by selecting the right type and amount of substrate (carbohydrate, fat or protein) that is needed by the body to meet the physiological demands placed on it. Cortisol mobilises energy by tapping into the body’s fat stores (in the form of triglycerides) and moving it from one location to another, or delivering it to hungry tissues such as working muscle. Under stressful conditions cortisol can provide the body with protein for energy production through gluconeogenesis, the process of converting amino acids into usable carbohydrates (glucose) in the liver. additionally, it can move fat from storage depots and relocate it to fat cell deposits deep in the abdomen. Cortisol also allows adipocytes to mature into fat cells. Finally, cortisol may act as an anti-inflammatory agent, suppressing the immune system during times of physical and psychological stress. Cortisol directly effects fat storage and weight gain in stressed tissue
individuals. cortisol
concentrations are controlled by a specific enzyme that converts inactive cortisone to
prime-journal.com | November/December 2011
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