Dealing with a debilitating illness IS stressful because the situation is continuous. How you deal with stress could have a major impact upon your life and the life of the patient. It is a medical fact that blood pressure and cholesterol levels go up in people who are stressed. Studies have now linked chronic stress with cardiovascular problems like hypertension, coronary heart disease and stroke [1].

Dr. Esther M. Sternberg at the National Institute of Mental Health says it makes sense for the immune system to gear up and get ready to heal potential wounds. But chronic stress can cause the system to backfire. Research has shown that wounds in people under chronic stress heal more slowly. Caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s disease, who are often under great stress, are more likely to get the flu or a cold—and when they take vaccines to protect their loved ones from getting flu, their bodies don’t respond as well [1]. Dealing with cancer or any illness that is prolonged puts the caregiver under the same scenario with regards to stress. Meanwhile, an ill patient cannot afford to have their partner or caregiver ill.

In the past 20 years, researchers have sought to confirm these findings and to use the new understanding of psychoneuroimmunology [the study of how mental state and neurological and hormonal factors affect the functioning of the immune system.] to correlate them to changes in immune functioning. It has become clear, for example, that stress of a variety of kinds – from loss of a spouse to upcoming medical school examinations – can decrease immune functioning, lower the number of natural killer cells (which seem to be involved in tumor surveillance) and impairing the effectiveness of DNA repair. These findings suggest that stress can make us less capable of defending ourselves against the development of cancer by weakening our defenses against mutations and by rendering immune cells less competent [2].

For almost 2,000 years, clinicians have observed that people with cancer are more likely to be depressed or grief-stricken, lonely or overwhelmed, than those without the disease – from the second century A.D., when Galen had noted that women with breast cancer were “melancholic,” to the end of the nineteenth century, when the distinguished U.S. surgeon, William Parker, observed that “grief is especially associated” with all forms of cancer [2].

Grief, melancholy, and stress, all contribute to a lowered immune system. That is the point. There are countless articles, books and papers concerning this subject but I am here to tell you what you can do about it. This section is mainly for the care-giver, as the patient would have to get medical okay before taking any supplements.

Stress Relieving Strategies

Exercise relieves stress. Go to http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/exercise-and-stress/SR00036 for the full article on the scientific benefits of exercise. A brief summary of exercise benefits: increased oxygen intake helps mental alertness. Daily exercise loosens tight muscles such as walking briskly.  Any vigorous activity releases endorphins, a chemical that helps feelings if well being. Circulation, breathing, heart rate all equal vitality and life.  Make yourself look at things like the sky or things in the neighborhood, which forces the attention outward.  During very stressful times with Kayla during heavy chemo, I would work out in my garage late at night and I cannot tell you how much this helped me.

Reduce your daily intake of sugar and carbohydrates because these cause increased tiredness. Increase your intake of fresh vegetables, fruits, salads, and lean proteins.

Socialize. Studies have shown that when people have a network of friends they do better [1].

Stretches: Simple stretches can do an enormous amount to relieve tension.  There are many websites with diagrams and videos of basic stretches.  Give it a try, you have nothing to lose. Here are simple videos on stretches that relieve tension.

Stretches For Stress – Part I

Stretches For Stress – Part II

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.  Start with ten minutes every day of gently doing some stretching.  Every two weeks increase time by five minutes.  Before you know it (Sometimes it takes months to really get to the point where you just do it.) you will want to do these because you have gotten used to how good it makes you feel.

Do NOT associate with negative people.

Get out more.

Start a hobby, take a class, and get involved in an activity that you like.

Get a good multi-vitamin and take it everyday. “As harmless as they might seem, much controversy surrounds the issue of vitamin supplementation. Generally speaking, taking a daily multivitamin supplement is safe and effective. In fact, doing so is much safer than developing symptoms of a vitamin or mineral deficiency.” Dr. John Spenser Ellis [3].

Sleep is essential for everyday life. Figure out how to get a good night of sleep. TV watching before you retire for the night has been proven to stimulate brain waves. Try a good book instead [4]. Passion flower, melatonin, calcium/magnesium, protein, chinese herbs from www.activeherbs.com , taking a walk, and many more, all help to attain better sleep.  It’s a matter of figuring out what works for you.

Have fun! Laughter is the best medicine.

Calcium and Magnesium help with stress. Make sure you are getting enough of these two supplements.

Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the human body, has several important functions. More than 99% of total body calcium is stored in the bones and teeth where it functions to support their structure. The remaining 1% is found throughout the body in blood, muscle, and the fluid between cells. Calcium is needed for muscle contraction, blood vessel contraction and expansion, the secretion of hormones and enzymes, and sending messages through the nervous system. A constant level of calcium is maintained in body fluid and tissues so that these vital body processes function efficiently [5].

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body and is essential to good health. Approximately 50% of total body magnesium is found in bone. The other half is found predominantly inside cells of body tissues and organs. Only 1% of magnesium is found in blood, but the body works very hard to keep blood levels of magnesium constant [6].

Magnesium is needed for more than 300 biochemical reactions in the body. It helps maintain normal muscle and nerve function, keeps heart rhythm steady, supports a healthy immune system, and keeps bones strong. Magnesium also helps regulate blood sugar levels, promotes normal blood pressure, and is known to be involved in energy metabolism and protein synthesis. There is an increased interest in the role of magnesium in preventing and managing disorders such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes. Dietary magnesium is absorbed in the small intestines. Magnesium is excreted through the kidneys [6].

A good product for Calcium and Magnesium is Bone Active sold through Vitamin World in a liquid form.

People who have high levels of vitamin C do not show the expected mental and physical signs of stress when subjected to acute psychological challenges. What’s more, they bounce back from stressful situations faster than people with low levels of vitamin C in their blood [7]. A company under the name of Alacer, manufactures a product called Emergen-C. It is a box of 30 individual packets that are designed to go into water. They taste great and are a quick fix for added vitamin C. Wal-Mart sells them for under ten dollars, they are also sold at many drug stores.

Invest in quality time. When Kayla and I get stressed, and after seven months of chemo the stress creeps up on us, but, if I create a project for us to do or an excursion, our whole attitude changes for the better. It is really easy to get trapped by the medical routine. Take the time to have some quality time. It makes a huge difference for the caregiver and the patient [8].

Find time to relax and take a break.

~

References

1. National Institute of Health http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2007/January/docs/01features_01.htm On the Internet as of August 29th, 2008.
2. Comprehensive Cancer Care by James S. Gordon and Sharon Curtin page 60.
3. Dr. John Spencer Ellis Multivitamins – to Take or not to Take InterNet August 29, 2008
4. National Institute Of Health Fact Sheet: Calcium http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.asp
5. National Institute Of Health Fact Sheet: Magnesium http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/magnesium.asp
6. Psychology Today http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20030425-000001.html Vitamin C: Stress Buster Internet 29 August 2008
7. New York Times article Habits: More TV, Less Sleep, a Children’s Study Finds By NICHOLAS BAKALAR Published: June 13, 2006
8. http://www.watton.org/studies&stories/stress/index.htm Watton on the Web is a Christian Resource Center.