Good Health: A Multi-System Approach (Part 3)-As seen in the South Shore Press Previously in the “For Your Health” column I had outlined the first of three areas that need to be addresses in order to become truly well or healthy.  Exercise was the first topic discussed as part of a Therapeutic Lifestyle Change (TLC) program.  The next topic I will expand on is stress, and how elimination or control of stress responses can add quality and quantity to your life.  As previously stated, it is our opinion that these are the primary areas of a therapeutic lifestyle plan, and additional areas will need to be addressed on an individual basis. It has been theorized by many scientists and researchers that the most powerful anti-aging weapon we have is our mind.  Numerous studies over the past half-century have shown that our health is significantly impacted by our response to stressful events in life.  Responses that were initially designed to save our lives in the face of danger are now the cause of a wide variety of physical and mental disease.  So, the same mind that could be our biggest anti-aging weapon could also be our worst enemy! Everywhere you turn these days there are countless resources talking about stress and how it affects us.   For lack of space in this article we will limit our discussion to cortisol, a stress hormone associated with many degenerative diseases, and also present in high levels in the last days of life.  As stated, stress responses were initially designed to save our lives when faced with danger.  If a predator (lion, bear, etc.) were about to attack, stress hormones such as cortisol would be released to suppress bodily functions not needed, such as digestion, while enhancing functions to help you remedy the situation, such as increased heart rate and blood pressure.  This is the typical “fight or flight” response.  Once the threat of danger has passed, the body returns to a balance state. These responses are essential to our survival, but are now triggered more often do to chronic stressors that have developed with our changing times.  It is this chronic stressors that lead to continuous release of cortisol, depleting your body’s reserves and leading to chronic disease, and even death.  There are four categories of chronic stressors: Psychological, Environmental, Metabolic, and Physiologic.  Examples include – anger, anxiety, chemicals, infection, noise, nutritional deficits, inflammation, injuries, pain, poor sleep, allergens, relationships, and so on. Diseases associated with chronic stress include – cardiovascular disease, cancer, mental illness, suicide, diabetes, and many other leading causes of death. While no one can completely avoid the daily stressors they are faced with - jobs, spouses, children, traffic - it is our ability to control these responses that will maximize our quality of life and  overall health.  The following are eight essential areas of stress management that need to be incorporated with the other aspects of a TLC program: Appropriate and adequate sleep, proper diet, exercise, relaxation techniques, positive attitude, effective communication, effective time management, and developing leisure activities.   Relaxation techniques include – meditation, yoga, tai chi, progressive relaxation, biofeedback, and many more.  Consistent effort towards controlling these responses is critical given the high level of stressors we are exposed to on a daily basis. The final aspect of TLC, nutrition, will be discussed next month in this column.  For more information or questions regarding content, please contact Dr. Michael S. Trayford at 631.288.4443 or visit www. hamptonwellness.com.