Evidence that Love Does Conquer Fear
Everyone faces stressful times, but new research shows one way to mentally fortify yourself beforehand. Researchers found that if subjects are shown brief images of people receiving love and support just prior to seeing threatening images, the brain`s threat monitor (the amygdala) doesn`t fire. The love reminder helps shield and restore nerves during stress, particularly…
Read MoreDo Healthy Habits Protect Against Stress?
Cellular aging is thought to be accelerated by major life stressors. Researchers studied the impact of stressors in middle-aged women over a one year period. They found that a significant amount of change in telomere length could be predicted by life stressors (such as divorce, job loss, or caring for an elderly parent). However, when subjects…
Read MoreA Surprising Reason for Migraine Strikes
Researchers may know why migraines sometimes strike the weekend after a stressful week. The debilitating pain of a migraine headache is five times more likely to strike in the first six hours after a reduction in heightened stress. Evidence suggests that the stress-hormone cortisol, which spikes during heightened stress, may trigger a migraine as its…
Read MoreYour State of Mind and Heart Risk
Preliminary research in Denmark has found that easily distressed individuals were significantly more likely to develop fatal or nonfatal heart disease during a 15-year follow-up period. This vulnerability was measured on a 12-item questionnaire. The authors stated that this measure could be a marker for some other factors, but stress is a known risk factor.…
Read MoreStressed Seniors Ripe for Fatal Strokes
A recent study involving Chicago seniors shows that depression, stress, and a negative outlook on life may predict the risk of dying from a hemorrhagic stroke, but not an ischemic stroke. The most distressed seniors were 2.97 fold (P < 0.0001) more likely to die from a stroke compared to the least distressed after almost…
Read MoreStress at Work May Increase CHD
A recent review of European studies has found that workers who report feeling job stress have an almost 25% increase in the risk of coronary heart disease compared to those reporting no stress in the workplace. These findings hold true even after adjusting for lifestyle and demographic factors. This study only measured job strain at…
Read MoreWorry May Speed Aging
An observational study of more than 5,000 women in the Nurses Health Study strongly suggests that chronic panic, fears, and other anxiety disorders may contribute to the premature shortening of telomeres. The difference between those with higher stress scores was comparable to women 6 years older than those with lower stress scores. Controlling our stresses…
Read MoreAlcohol Prolongs Psychological Anxiety of Stress
People often use alcohol as a way of coping with life's stress. New research indicates this may actually just bring more unpleasantness. Although alcohol reduces the cortisol secretion of the stress response, it also prolongs the negative psychological anxiety of stress and takes away the pleasurable effects of alcohol. So stress and alcohol feed the worst…
Read MorePhysical Activity Reduces Upper Respiratiory Tract Infection
A Swedish study of more than 1500 men and women found that moderate to high levels of physical activity was associated with reduced upper respiratory tract infections. Benefits of physical activity were greater for those under high stress.PositiveTip: Exercise regularly. Brisk walking is an excellent form of physical activity, and improves immunity and lung function while reducing…
Read MoreNo Heart for Overtime Work
Working overtime is bad for your heart. The European Heart Journal recently reported an 11-year study following 6000 men and women who worked in the British Civil service. During the study there were 369 heart attacks in the group.
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