ÔTHE
SCIENCE OF HEALTH AND EMOTIONSÕ
Over
the past several decades, weÕve come to hypothesize that feelings and beliefs
contribute to our health and well being just as much as our percentage of body
fat. No where are the emotions and the health of an organ system more closely
tied than our hearts. Studies actually show that those who chronically fell and
verbalize emotion based comments like she broke my heart, that breaks my heart,
hard-hearted, heart of ice, tend to suffer more serious kinds of abnormal
rhythms and heart attacks than those who do not. It was also shown that those
who talk in terms of big hearted, lionhearted, brave heart, heartfelt have
fewer heart problems and have in general healthier hearts.
The
first groundbreaking discoveries relating emotions and heart health came more
than two decades ago when the personality constructs were described as Type A
and Type B. This research done by Meyer Friedman, MD, was actually very simple.
The Type A person has the defining characteristics of zealous ambition,
narcissism, competitiveness and hostility. In contrast, the Type B is easy
going more relaxed, can pace themselves and doesnÕt feel that constant weight
of something pushing them. Of course, the key word is attitude.
The
study also showed that Type A men who had suffered heart attacks could improve
their chances and avoid another attack by making lifestyle changes. Of course,
diet and exercise was addressed, but the men who chose to only work with diet
and exercise had heart-attack recurrence rates of 28 percent, compared with a
21 percent recurrence rates for those who made life style improvement changes.
WeÕve
come a long way in the two decades since that first work. Today individuals
that change their diet, exercise, life style and work with some kind of support
group lower their recurrence rate to 12.9 percent. Ò ThatÕs 54 percent fewer
heart attacks than in the group that made no lifestyle changes, according to
Dean Ornish, MD., in his most recent book ÒLOVE AND SURVIVAL.Ó
Failure
to cope with stress hinders your bodyÕs natural abilities to fight off disease.
Developing an ability to cope can actually help prevent disease, including
heart disease.
Are you a Type A? - Here are some things
to ask yourself:
Is
it hard for you to unwind during free time?
Do
you need tranquilizers or a drink to relax?
If
you are upset, do you find you canÕt sleep because of the thoughts racing
through your mind?
Are
you so worried you suffer indigestion, diarrhea, or nausea?
Is
life always a race against the clock? - No patience for waiting in lines,
traffic jams?
If
you answered yes to one or more of the above questions, then you ought to think
about making some changes. Be assured that the payoffs will be well worth
whatever time and energy you invest. You may even find yourself getting more
work done because you feel better and are better focused on the task at hand.
If
you answered yes to several of the questions, you need some professional help.
ItÕs out there, but you will have to ask!
DonÕt know how to get started? Here are
some ideas
Make
a personal inventory of areas that are particularly distressing for you, work
with one thing at a time.
Accept
the fact that itÕs possible to be hard working and successful without
aggression and hostility.
When
you get angry for any reason, ask yourself: Am I too angry in relationship to
what the event represents? Awareness leads to change!
Make
a decision to set aside a certain amount of time each and every day for rest
and relaxation. It is not necessary to work all the time.
Recognize
what situations lead to your Type A responses. If waiting in lines is a killer,
shop when there are no lines.
Look
into time management courses, support groups or counseling and share with your
family your plans.
Start
an exercise program that you enjoy.
Change
your behavior for yourself and know your limitations. After all who is it
thatÕs living inside that body? Till next time, Rebecca.
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