Blog# 161 Unusual Stress can Result in Illness the Following Season

Extreme heat, as we have endured this summer, can push some people into illness or imbalance in the following season, in this case, Autumn.  This is a principal in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and is something I have observed in myself and in others.  I have seen different types of stress sometimes even result in illness for the entire succeeding year.  Crises and issues such as lockdowns, excessive fear of illness and injury, loss of income or employment, death or serious illness in the family, divorce or break up, financial loss, theft, fire, flood, extreme climate variations, and the list can go on – can stress body and mind, resulting in on-going negative consequences.  Adrenal exhaustion is one physical problem that can occur; cardiac injury, especially in response to toxicity or shock is another.  Kidney or liver damage, neurological or digestive system harm, respiratory insufficiency, and even reproductive deficit and immune suppression are other types of damage which may occur.  Injury to one bodily system often eventually results in injury to other systems.  Poor blood circulation due to pericarditis, myocarditis or congestive heart failure can lead to insufficient blood supply to the kidneys, brain or thyroid.  The organs which do not receive sufficient blood may then malfunction.  Kidney stones or gradual kidney failure, dementia or stroke, and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis or Grave’s disease are possible consequences.  Toxicity from working with harmful chemicals, taking dangerous medications, or living near a polluting factory can also result in autoimmune problems, especially if allowed to go on for extended periods of time.

A few real life examples of stress leading to further damage follow:  a man who faced extreme familial conflict, including his wife’s suicide attempt, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma the next year.  A woman who was raped resumed alcoholic behaviors which she had surmounted for over a decade.  She lost her career as a result.  A woman whose parents died within a month of each other became depressed and suffered a long-lasting flu-like illness the season following her parents deaths.  Of course, there were underlying conditions that made the negative consequences more likely to occur.  The man may have been addicted to sleeping pills or some other toxic medication.  The woman whose parents died may have already had a tendency toward depression, which suppresses the immune system.  The woman who fell back into alcoholism may not have had a supportive social network. 

In each case, it is likely that the negative reaction to stress could have been reduced, delayed or possibly avoided completely through support from friends and family, holistic and/or conventional medical care, and increased self-care.  Extra outings and meaningful conversations with caring people could be helpful support.  Holistic care, such as regular Chiropractic, Massage, Acupuncture, Herbal or Homeopathic therapy could be beneficial. There might be an imbalance, such as hypertension or hypothyroidism, which prescription medication could help control.  Self-care could involve seeing a psychotherapist to help process the life problems, upgrading nutrition to eliminate processed foods and to include primarily organic, biodynamic, wild caught, grass fed and other healthful nutrition, getting regular strengthening and energizing exercise, learning and using self-hypnosis or meditation daily, making positive social connections, such as joining a hiking club, seeking out a book group, and spending time relaxing in Nature.  

During temperature extremes like many have faced this summer and will likely again face in future years, it is important to do the following things to protect ourselves from heat.  Stay hydrated.  Plain, pure water is best, preferably somewhere between body and room temperature.  Standard recommendation for adults is drinking between 68 and 100 ounces per day.  Foods with high fluid content are also helpful, such as watermelon, cucumber, soups, and smoothies.  If highly active outdoors in the heat, even more fluids should be consumed.  If there is very little urinary output, or if the color is dark, that indicates dehydration, and more fluids should be consumed.  Eat especially healthy, and possibly consume less quantities of food than usual.  Avoid spending excessive time out of doors, and keep exercise outside to a minimum.  Reduce the amount of alcohol, tobacco, and other toxic substances consumed.  Even reducing the amount of herbs, vitamins and minerals during especially hot weather may sometimes be helpful, but remember that minerals sodium, potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamins C, D, K2, B complex and sometimes others are needed to balance electrolytes during times of excessive sweating.  Additionally, certain kinds of medication, such as diuretics and osmotic laxatives may lead to increased dehydration during hot weather, so more fluid intake may be especially important for people taking these.  Some cities and towns have cooling centers, and these are helpful to those who do not have access to fans and air conditioning.  So, these are some ways to understand as well as to protect from the effects of extreme heat and other stresses.  

This blog’s offer:  feel free to contact me with questions about aspects of heat mitigation that may have not been covered here.  Enjoy the rest of the summer, and stay safe.