Walking on The High Wire

Have you ever seen the person at the circus that walks on the tightrope?  The amazing ones can even ride a bike across while balancing balls, plates, boxes and other items.  It requires inner strength and great balance.  Similarly, our physical health can only be maximized if we are in balance in all the areas of our life.  If one area is neglected, it will affect the others.  I believe that we must be aware and nurture our health not only physically, but also, mentally, emotionally, financially and spiritually.  Let me touch on each of these, going in to more depth in future posts.

Mental Health:
We think of our youth as the years of our education but that is when it begins, not when it ends.  Keeping our brain active is important to maintain alertness, awareness and to ward off problems with our memory.  As our population ages we are seeing more and more of our family and friends develop dementia.  The scientific community has looked at all sorts of drugs and even herbal remedies to aid the brain.  None have been shown to be very significant.  However, one study in particular caught my eye.  Those patients who exercised their brain (puzzles, games, speaking a foreign language, playing a musical instrument) had a seven fold decreased risk of developing Alzheimer's Dementia than those who did not.  In addition, those who are stimulated to learn and grow mentally are more apt to read this blog and other sources of health.  Information is power.  In regards to your health, it is the power to make healthy choices and meaningful changes.

Emotional Health:
Our emotional state has a huge bearing on our physical health.  The stress from strained relationships can produce anxiety which is not just mental, but biochemical.  When we are under stress, signals from our brain are sent to the adrenal gland which is stimulated to produce epinephrine (adrenaline).  This courses through the blood stream, causing all sorts of effects.  Most noticeably are those of the heart, making it speed up, contract harder and even causing skipped beats or extra beats.  We can feel sweaty, dizzy and lightheaded.  It takes up so much energy, that it leaves us tired and exhausted.  Our immune system is taxed and we are left more vulnerable to colds and infections.  Often, patients will come in and tell me all of their physical symptoms and complaints but no one wants to admit that it could be caused by emotional stress.  It is much easier to be given a pill than to be told to work on improving relationships.  I recently saw a woman who has had many complaints over the last year.  She is currently doing relatively well and we have developed a strong enough relationship and understanding that I felt that I needed to discuss her family stresses in more detail.  I told her, "I fear that the stress of your relationship with your husband is having adverse consequences on your health."  Tearfully, she acknowledged that she felt trapped in the relationship and didn't even like going home after work.  We talked of ways to get help for them both, and though I certainly didn't solve any of her problems, she left with an understanding of how that stress was affecting her health and is now better able to focus her energies on the cause rather than on the symptoms.

Financial Health:
Living within our means provides a peace of mind that is priceless.  If we stay out of debt, we will not have to wonder if we need to choose to pay the mortgage or for a prescription.  Financial worries can be all consuming and cause the same stresses and health consequences as outlined in the preceding paragraph.  I realize that we all have different circumstances and some are left to struggle financially due to no fault of their own.  However, most of us can manage our resources better than we currently do.  We don't often think of how that impacts our health, but it most certainly does.  From a more global perspective, it has been shown that the best way to improve the health of a nation is not to pour more money into health care but to work on eliminating poverty.  We are much more able to take care of our physical health when we don't have to spend all of our energy on providing the very basic necessities of life.  Getting as much education as possible opens the doors of opportunity and ties in to our mental health as stated above.  Better jobs often have better health care benefits as well.

Spiritual Health:
The belief in a higher power, though not universal, is certainly pervasive in our world.  It brings hope to the depressed and provides an individual with a feeling of purpose in life.  Religious texts, such as the Bible, are full of examples of the power of faith to heal and to be healed.  When a loved one has passed away, those who have a strong religious connection often have stronger support groups and cope better.  As a physician, I have found great strength in being able to acknowledge a patient's belief and to support them as they may struggle with a serious illness.  I feel I can better help them cope with their disease by understanding their beliefs. There have been scientific studies showing the actual merit of prayer.  In fact, I pray for my patient's doctor each and every day.

All of these areas are important and must be balanced to achieve optimal physical health.  Each of us may have more work to do in one area than another.  When you are on the high wire of health, remember to keep all your burdens balanced!