The Cave Woman Returns Home
Most heart experts consider the major risk factors of heart disease as age, heredity, obesity, smoking, inactivity, poor diet and high blood pressure. However, stress appears to pose a significant risk in some people. You have heard of the fight or flight response to a perceived threat to your safety, whereby chemicals such as cortisol and adrenaline are increased in the body until the threat has passed. When the cave woman is running from the saber tooth tiger, she needs the alertness and speed that the chemicals provide. When she returns to the safety and warmth of her cave, she can relax and allow her bodily functions to return to a normal level.
Modern day women, however, often maintain a high stress level on a continuous basis as their return to the cave or home is met with the demands of running children to sports practice, helping with homework, preparing dinner, listening to their spouse’s work problems, and returning telephone calls and e-mails. When is the time to relax? How do you relax and alleviate stress? Even though we know stress can affect our attitude and cause us to overeat or drink, we need to be mindful that we are not helpless in this situation. Physical activity, yoga, meditation, quiet time, and close friends can assist us in relieving stress.
Our bodily systems are wonderfully connected and function according to set patterns. One example dealing with stress is the action of the “super gland”, the hypothalamus, which allows for the increase of adrenaline, norepinephrine, and cortisol which adds more sugar to the blood and raises the heart rate in times of stress. If the stress level remains high, these chemicals can inhibit the production of estrogen, effecting bone growth and calcium reserves and drawing calcium away from the bones.
Rest and exercise act to reduce stress levels and among other benefits promote muscle and bone growth. Weight bearing exercises such as walking, resistance training and even yoga, which directs safe pressure to all your bones and joints, adds strength and flexibility for healthy living. Our cave woman doesn’t have to go to a gym to exercise as she is already walking, running, lifting, and reaching. She is both hunter and farmer. Without electricity there is no TV, computer or artificial lighting. When darkness comes she rests, and eats when hungry or when food is available, retaining fat for periods of famine and extreme cold. Our bodies today are regulated under the same functional systems as the cave woman. However we are probably not going to die of starvation, but we might from stress overload. Give yourself vital relaxation time and periodically step off life’s treadmill and enjoy your cave.
Article by Bob McDowell, Certified Personal Trainer.
