Let's play with this idea a bit. Change is, by definition, a "stressful" experience in that it disturbs the status quo and requires the expenditure of resources to return to a place of balance with one's environment. This is all governed by the chemical cocktail produced by the endocrine system. Cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine are major components.
Cortisol is a sort of Swiss Army knife hormone with important roles in-
* Proper glucose metabolism
* Regulation of blood pressure
* Insulin release for blood sugar maintanence
* Immune function
* Inflammatory response
In looking at this, it is interesting to note that one of the first effects of a dose of sinemet
is a lowering of cortisol levels. Some of the benefit that we ascribe to increased ldopa may, in fact, come from lessening of cortisol's effects.
Effects of longterm exposure can include, among others, -
* Impaired cognitive performance
* Suppressed thyroid function
* Blood sugar imbalances such as hyperglycemia
* Decreased bone density
* Decrease in muscle tissue
* Higher blood pressure
* Lowered immunity and inflammatory responses in the body, slowed wound healing, and other health consequences
* Increased abdominal fat, which is associated with a greater amount of health problems than fat deposited in other areas of the body. Some of the health problems associated with increased stomach fat are heart attacks, strokes, the development of metabolic syndrome, higher levels of “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL), which can lead to other health problems!
As you can see, there is a lot of overlap between cortisol levels and some of our problems. Finally and just to make things interesting-
"Cortisol secretion varies among individuals. People are biologically ‘wired’ to react differently to stress. One person may secrete higher levels of cortisol than another in the same situation. Studies have also shown that people who secrete higher levels of cortisol in response to stress also tend to eat more food, and food that is higher in carbohydrates than people who secrete less cortisol. "
(From about.com)
It might also be relevant that walking is a particular problem since it is an activity which generates a high rate of change, especially out in the world versus indoors on a treadmill.
Just thinking out loud...
Quote:
Originally Posted by lindylanka
MD, Interesting that you say 'water please...'. There are some people, including the amazing Tom Issacs, also of this board, who believe and advocate that we need more water, and that we do not drink enough. I relate to this absolutely, I have been 'forgetting' to drink most of my life, along with 'forgetting' to do a number of other things.
Rick, if resistance to change include the microcosm, yes, it is the small things that get me, moving from one task to another. Can get caught up in doing a single task, like vacuuming house, and find myself 'over doing' it. Also this accounts for a kind of perfectionism, the ability to stick with a task for a long time. It also accounts for not moving on from one task to another. Don't know whether this is what you had in mind....
flexibility issue is also interesting, as was a very flexible person inner and outer, though you would not believe it if you saw me now. Did I run out of it or was it just my neurotransmitters defining me. Not sure. But I wish I was back there, I miss sitting on a cushion most of all........
funnily I can pull out the stops for most defined exercises, even though the movements are more limited, ie not so wide open...... Walking is the one that gets me though, what is it about walking that is so difficult, it used to be my daily joy.....
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