Research on the effects of Stress
04-07-2014, 08:35 PM
#1
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Research on the effects of Stress
This is a particularly important topic for me, as a close friend of mine is a pilot who had to quit his job due to stress. I am going to post some useful articles in this thread, hopefully they will help someone!
04-07-2014, 08:36 PM
#2
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The effects of stress on pilot performance
The effects of stress on pilot performance
(reprinted from the effects of stress on pilot performance)
A. stress
Flying fitness is not just a physical condition. It has a definite meaning in the psychological sense as well. It involves the ability of the pilot to perceive, think and act to the best of his ability without the hindering effects of anger, worry and anxiety.
Studies have shown that emotional factors, mental upsets and psychological mal-adjustments are repeatedly present in airplane accidents. The ability to think clearly and act decisively is greatly influenced by the feelings and emotions. In fact, every individual will panic earlier than normal if he is suffering from fatigue, illness, worry or anger. But, even well away from the panic threshold, good judgment is seriously impaired under stress.
There are many factors that contribute to stress in the cockpit. They are generally classed into three categories: physical, physiological or psychological.
Physical stressors include extreme temperature and humidity, noise, vibration, lack of oxygen.
Physiological stressors include fatigue, poor physical condition, hunger, disease.
Psychological stressors relate to emotional factors such as a death or illness in the family, business worries, poor interpersonal relationships with family or boss, financial worries, etc.
It is essential that a pilot be able to recognize when stress levels are getting too high. If you are suffering from domestic stress, if you are undergoing divorce or separation, if you have suffered bereavement, if an argument with your spouse or your boss is still rankling, if worries are building up to an unbearable load, if you have been despondent and moody, the cockpit of your airplane is probably no place for you.
Nevertheless, stress levels do build up in the airplane cockpit, when there are a multitude of decisions to make and tasks to perform. Stress is, in effect, generated by the task itself and is not always negative. The sympathetic nervous system responds to stress and provides us with the resources to cope with the new sudden demands. However, the stress load may easily become unmanageable and a pilot needs to, take measures to manage the stress load so that it does not become so. He needs to learn how to reduce or prevent in advance those stressors over which he has control.
The physiological stressors can be controlled by maintaining good physical fitness and bodily function, by engaging in a program of regular physical exercise, by getting enough sleep to prevent fatigue, by eating a well balanced diet, by learning and practicing relaxation techniques. The physical stressors, can be reduced by making the cockpit environment as stress free as possible. A conscious effort to avoid stressful situations and encounters helps to minimize the psychological stressors.
B. panic
There are many things that can happen in the air that cause fear and anxiety. These are normal reactions to a predicament that is out of the ordinary. What is to be avoided is allowing that normal anxiety to progress to, panic.
Panic is a complete disregard for reason and learned responses, a feeling of extreme helplessness. A pilot in the grip of panic will freeze at the controls, will make a totally wrong response or succumb to completely irrational action.
Fatigue, hangover, emotional stress, chronic worry, illness, ail substantially reduce the amount of anxiety an individual can withstand before he succumbs to panic.
The best way to prevent panic is through training and frequent rehearsal of emergency techniques. A pilot who knows his emergency routines so well that they are automatic will be less likely to panic when faced with a real emergency situation.
Lack of self- confidence is, in itself, self-defeating and an open door to panic. Not that a pilot should be fearless, for the fearless pilot has suspended reality testing. He refuses to admit that there is any situation into which he is not competent to venture. Self-confidence is quite another thing. The self-confident pilot can assess the reality of a situation, can call on his reserves of training and knowledge to cope with the situation and does not permit emotion to cloud his reason.
C. physical fitness
The purpose of this book has been to instruct the pilot in what he should know to be a competent aviator. What he should do is, however, of equal importance. The most competent, knowledgeable and experienced pilot is in business only so long as his medical is valid. Maintaining physical fitness is therefore of prime importance.
Throughout the flying fraternity, there are thousands of pilots in their senior years; who are still enjoying the privileges of their license and using their airplane for pleasure, business and travel. If you want to be flying when you are eligible for the old age pension, now is the time to start looking after your health and maintaining your physical fitness.
The person who is physically active, participating in a regular routine of exercise or sports, will most likely have a healthy heart, lungs and not be overweight. Diet is important, not only to keep weight at an acceptable level, but also in the control of heart disease. The case against smoking as a contributor to lung disease and heart disease is heavily documented. Protection of hearing by wearing earplugs has already been mentioned as has the need to protect the eyes from undue eyestrain.
(reprinted from the effects of stress on pilot performance)
A. stress
Flying fitness is not just a physical condition. It has a definite meaning in the psychological sense as well. It involves the ability of the pilot to perceive, think and act to the best of his ability without the hindering effects of anger, worry and anxiety.
Studies have shown that emotional factors, mental upsets and psychological mal-adjustments are repeatedly present in airplane accidents. The ability to think clearly and act decisively is greatly influenced by the feelings and emotions. In fact, every individual will panic earlier than normal if he is suffering from fatigue, illness, worry or anger. But, even well away from the panic threshold, good judgment is seriously impaired under stress.
There are many factors that contribute to stress in the cockpit. They are generally classed into three categories: physical, physiological or psychological.
Physical stressors include extreme temperature and humidity, noise, vibration, lack of oxygen.
Physiological stressors include fatigue, poor physical condition, hunger, disease.
Psychological stressors relate to emotional factors such as a death or illness in the family, business worries, poor interpersonal relationships with family or boss, financial worries, etc.
It is essential that a pilot be able to recognize when stress levels are getting too high. If you are suffering from domestic stress, if you are undergoing divorce or separation, if you have suffered bereavement, if an argument with your spouse or your boss is still rankling, if worries are building up to an unbearable load, if you have been despondent and moody, the cockpit of your airplane is probably no place for you.
Nevertheless, stress levels do build up in the airplane cockpit, when there are a multitude of decisions to make and tasks to perform. Stress is, in effect, generated by the task itself and is not always negative. The sympathetic nervous system responds to stress and provides us with the resources to cope with the new sudden demands. However, the stress load may easily become unmanageable and a pilot needs to, take measures to manage the stress load so that it does not become so. He needs to learn how to reduce or prevent in advance those stressors over which he has control.
The physiological stressors can be controlled by maintaining good physical fitness and bodily function, by engaging in a program of regular physical exercise, by getting enough sleep to prevent fatigue, by eating a well balanced diet, by learning and practicing relaxation techniques. The physical stressors, can be reduced by making the cockpit environment as stress free as possible. A conscious effort to avoid stressful situations and encounters helps to minimize the psychological stressors.
B. panic
There are many things that can happen in the air that cause fear and anxiety. These are normal reactions to a predicament that is out of the ordinary. What is to be avoided is allowing that normal anxiety to progress to, panic.
Panic is a complete disregard for reason and learned responses, a feeling of extreme helplessness. A pilot in the grip of panic will freeze at the controls, will make a totally wrong response or succumb to completely irrational action.
Fatigue, hangover, emotional stress, chronic worry, illness, ail substantially reduce the amount of anxiety an individual can withstand before he succumbs to panic.
The best way to prevent panic is through training and frequent rehearsal of emergency techniques. A pilot who knows his emergency routines so well that they are automatic will be less likely to panic when faced with a real emergency situation.
Lack of self- confidence is, in itself, self-defeating and an open door to panic. Not that a pilot should be fearless, for the fearless pilot has suspended reality testing. He refuses to admit that there is any situation into which he is not competent to venture. Self-confidence is quite another thing. The self-confident pilot can assess the reality of a situation, can call on his reserves of training and knowledge to cope with the situation and does not permit emotion to cloud his reason.
C. physical fitness
The purpose of this book has been to instruct the pilot in what he should know to be a competent aviator. What he should do is, however, of equal importance. The most competent, knowledgeable and experienced pilot is in business only so long as his medical is valid. Maintaining physical fitness is therefore of prime importance.
Throughout the flying fraternity, there are thousands of pilots in their senior years; who are still enjoying the privileges of their license and using their airplane for pleasure, business and travel. If you want to be flying when you are eligible for the old age pension, now is the time to start looking after your health and maintaining your physical fitness.
The person who is physically active, participating in a regular routine of exercise or sports, will most likely have a healthy heart, lungs and not be overweight. Diet is important, not only to keep weight at an acceptable level, but also in the control of heart disease. The case against smoking as a contributor to lung disease and heart disease is heavily documented. Protection of hearing by wearing earplugs has already been mentioned as has the need to protect the eyes from undue eyestrain.
04-07-2014, 08:38 PM
#3
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Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 9
Pilots: Recognizing & Coping With Stress
Airline Pilots: Recognizing And Coping With Stress
Reprinted from Airline Pilots: Recognizing And Coping With Stress
Becoming a professional pilot is a coveted and prestigious position. However, it is also one that requires fortitude and a tough mentality, due to the increasing levels of stress that pilots are exposed to on a regular basis. There are several sources of stress for a typical pilot, not least due to the number of lives which are in their care with every flight. In fact, Career Cast ranked airline pilot as the third most stressful job in 2012. (1) The above-average income associated with the job was the only reason that it wasn’t ranked even higher.
Stress is a biological response of the body to adverse stimulus, which can be internal or external. In the case of a pilot, he experiences both types of stress. Stressful situations can also be both expected and unexpected, and the pilot is often under tremendous needs to deal with these sources of stress instantly.
Sources of Stress
There are several categories of stress whose presence is enough to increase the dangers of flying substantially, and we can classify them broadly into three different groups: physical, physiological and psychological. (2) Each of these categories individually may create significant amounts of stress for a pilot.
Physical stressors
Brought on by unpleasant conditions in the cockpit of the airplane such as too much noise, vibration, humidity or lack of oxygen.
Physiological stressors
Disturbances within the body itself such as fatigue, hunger or various illnesses.
Psychological stressors
These include the death of a family member, arguments with the spouse, money problems etc.
Specific Stressors
These are very broad categorizations of stress. In reality pilots have to deal with several sources of stress, some which are general and others that are specific to their line of work. Here are the three most common sources of stress faced by pilots.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a major cause of pilot stress, and one that is shared with many different lines of work. A pilot is often required to stay focused and aware for very long periods of time.
Working hours
Another major problem that adds to a pilot’s fatigue level is the irregular working hours. Very few pilots are able to keep a steady working schedule. They are expected to fly at all times of the week, both day and night and in all kinds of weather conditions. This irregular schedule has been shown, time and time again, to cause both mental and physical problems.
Jet lag
In addition to the strain caused by irregular working hours, pilots need to contend with regular jetlag. Getting insufficient sleep only adds to a pilot’s fatigue levels, but is almost unavoidable for an airline pilot. Another troubling issue is that there is disagreement between various flight organizations such as regulatory agencies and unions regarding the seriousness of fatigue as being a real problem for pilots.
These are the typical stress sources for pilots, but there are several other factors to contend with that are specific to a pilot and his career. Dealing with these factors is a large part of flight training, but under certain circumstances, especially when other stressors are involved, they can be difficult to cope with.
Harsh weather conditions
Bad conditions are something in which every pilot is trained, yet it still represents a significant source of stress every time it happens. Weather can be extremely unpredictable and there is often little time to mentally prepare.
Responsibility
There is a huge responsibility placed on the shoulders of each airline pilot. They realize that several hundred people may die if they make a mistake. When something unexpected happens, such as equipment malfunction or turbulence, it is easy for panic to set in. At these times, a pilot must remain calm and collected in order to maintain the safety of his passengers and flight crew.
Most people understand that being an airline pilot is a high-pressure and stressful job. Comprehensive screening programs are in place to ensure that our pilots have the mental fortitude to deal with the everyday stress they will experience. Some stressors have also been mitigated by technology, as on-board computers have progressively taken on more of the flying duties. However, many other sources of stress remain, including the ones listed above. Job-related stress is still a major problem for pilots and airlines. This is an important area of study, as the ability of an overstressed pilot to do his job affects much more than just his own life.
Coping with Stress
Researchers have examined many different ways of reducing stress among pilots. One such study was completed in 2011 at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Ohio. (3) The study examined if stress-control sessions performed in a training flight simulator were able to enhance a pilot’s real life performance in an actual aircraft during stressful circumstances. The study did, indeed, show that pilots who received this kind of specialized training prior to flying were capable of handling stressful situations better. Their performances in the aircraft were less affected by stress after completing the training. These results were confirmed by telemetry data, as well as the personal evaluations recorded by flight instructors.
Despite the positive results shown by these stress-control training sessions, most professionals still believe that the best ways of dealing with stress are personal, and will vary from pilot to pilot. It is important to remember that there are other variables at play, here such as a pilot’s personality, flying time, and external sources of stress such as chronic illness or emotional stress. Stress-control training has a role to play, but it is hard to say that any particular stress relief process would work equally well with all pilots.
Further Reading
(1) CareerCast, “The Most Stressful Jobs of 2012 – #3: Airline Pilot”, The Most Stressful Jobs of 2012 - 3: Airline Pilot | CareerCast.com.
(2) PilotFriend, “The effects of stress on pilot performance”, the effects of stress on pilot performance.
(3) Baltic Aviation Academy, “The Importance Of Coping With Stress That Pilots Are Exposed To On A Daily Basis”, The Importance of Coping with Stress that Pilots are Exposed to on a Daily Basis - Aviation Academy
Reprinted from Airline Pilots: Recognizing And Coping With Stress
Becoming a professional pilot is a coveted and prestigious position. However, it is also one that requires fortitude and a tough mentality, due to the increasing levels of stress that pilots are exposed to on a regular basis. There are several sources of stress for a typical pilot, not least due to the number of lives which are in their care with every flight. In fact, Career Cast ranked airline pilot as the third most stressful job in 2012. (1) The above-average income associated with the job was the only reason that it wasn’t ranked even higher.
Stress is a biological response of the body to adverse stimulus, which can be internal or external. In the case of a pilot, he experiences both types of stress. Stressful situations can also be both expected and unexpected, and the pilot is often under tremendous needs to deal with these sources of stress instantly.
Sources of Stress
There are several categories of stress whose presence is enough to increase the dangers of flying substantially, and we can classify them broadly into three different groups: physical, physiological and psychological. (2) Each of these categories individually may create significant amounts of stress for a pilot.
Physical stressors
Brought on by unpleasant conditions in the cockpit of the airplane such as too much noise, vibration, humidity or lack of oxygen.
Physiological stressors
Disturbances within the body itself such as fatigue, hunger or various illnesses.
Psychological stressors
These include the death of a family member, arguments with the spouse, money problems etc.
Specific Stressors
These are very broad categorizations of stress. In reality pilots have to deal with several sources of stress, some which are general and others that are specific to their line of work. Here are the three most common sources of stress faced by pilots.
Fatigue
Fatigue is a major cause of pilot stress, and one that is shared with many different lines of work. A pilot is often required to stay focused and aware for very long periods of time.
Working hours
Another major problem that adds to a pilot’s fatigue level is the irregular working hours. Very few pilots are able to keep a steady working schedule. They are expected to fly at all times of the week, both day and night and in all kinds of weather conditions. This irregular schedule has been shown, time and time again, to cause both mental and physical problems.
Jet lag
In addition to the strain caused by irregular working hours, pilots need to contend with regular jetlag. Getting insufficient sleep only adds to a pilot’s fatigue levels, but is almost unavoidable for an airline pilot. Another troubling issue is that there is disagreement between various flight organizations such as regulatory agencies and unions regarding the seriousness of fatigue as being a real problem for pilots.
These are the typical stress sources for pilots, but there are several other factors to contend with that are specific to a pilot and his career. Dealing with these factors is a large part of flight training, but under certain circumstances, especially when other stressors are involved, they can be difficult to cope with.
Harsh weather conditions
Bad conditions are something in which every pilot is trained, yet it still represents a significant source of stress every time it happens. Weather can be extremely unpredictable and there is often little time to mentally prepare.
Responsibility
There is a huge responsibility placed on the shoulders of each airline pilot. They realize that several hundred people may die if they make a mistake. When something unexpected happens, such as equipment malfunction or turbulence, it is easy for panic to set in. At these times, a pilot must remain calm and collected in order to maintain the safety of his passengers and flight crew.
Most people understand that being an airline pilot is a high-pressure and stressful job. Comprehensive screening programs are in place to ensure that our pilots have the mental fortitude to deal with the everyday stress they will experience. Some stressors have also been mitigated by technology, as on-board computers have progressively taken on more of the flying duties. However, many other sources of stress remain, including the ones listed above. Job-related stress is still a major problem for pilots and airlines. This is an important area of study, as the ability of an overstressed pilot to do his job affects much more than just his own life.
Coping with Stress
Researchers have examined many different ways of reducing stress among pilots. One such study was completed in 2011 at the Air Force Research Laboratory in Ohio. (3) The study examined if stress-control sessions performed in a training flight simulator were able to enhance a pilot’s real life performance in an actual aircraft during stressful circumstances. The study did, indeed, show that pilots who received this kind of specialized training prior to flying were capable of handling stressful situations better. Their performances in the aircraft were less affected by stress after completing the training. These results were confirmed by telemetry data, as well as the personal evaluations recorded by flight instructors.
Despite the positive results shown by these stress-control training sessions, most professionals still believe that the best ways of dealing with stress are personal, and will vary from pilot to pilot. It is important to remember that there are other variables at play, here such as a pilot’s personality, flying time, and external sources of stress such as chronic illness or emotional stress. Stress-control training has a role to play, but it is hard to say that any particular stress relief process would work equally well with all pilots.
Further Reading
(1) CareerCast, “The Most Stressful Jobs of 2012 – #3: Airline Pilot”, The Most Stressful Jobs of 2012 - 3: Airline Pilot | CareerCast.com.
(2) PilotFriend, “The effects of stress on pilot performance”, the effects of stress on pilot performance.
(3) Baltic Aviation Academy, “The Importance Of Coping With Stress That Pilots Are Exposed To On A Daily Basis”, The Importance of Coping with Stress that Pilots are Exposed to on a Daily Basis - Aviation Academy
04-07-2014, 08:40 PM
#4
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Joined APC: Apr 2014
Posts: 9
The importance of coping with stress
THE IMPORTANCE OF COPING WITH STRESS THAT PILOTS ARE EXPOSED TO ON A DAILY BASIS
(reprinted from The Importance of Coping with Stress that Pilots are Exposed to on a Daily Basis - Aviation Academy
A career of a pilot is often considered to be prestigious and exciting. However, most youngsters are misled by a way too idealistic image in their minds discounting the hard psychological conditions of the occupation. Great responsibility for the safety of many passengers, operating an aircraft overnight, flying in bad weather or in a high density traffic area, temporarily getting off course, equipment malfunction, conflicts with other crew members or air traffic control – these are amongst the most common reasons why pilots have to cope with exceptionally high stress levels in their workplace.
Stress is the sum of biological reactions to any adverse stimulus – be it physical, mental, emotional, internal or external – that tends to disturb the body’s natural balance. Stress can be caused by alcohol consumption, self medication, drug, tobacco use, inadequate diet and nutrition as well as various psychological factors. Fatigue, poor physical fitness and dehydration are also commonly blamed for accelerating increased levels of stress. Although it is difficult to determine or measure the exact impact of stress on pilots, they simply must master the skill of self-control which can prove vital in critical situations.
Despite the fact that pilots are tested psychologically before attending flight training organizations and have to be well prepared to work under high pressure, the most commonly determined cause of crashes remains to be the human factor. For instance, on the 31st of August, 1987, Boeing 737-200 airplane, operated by Thai Airways, crashed in Phuket, Thailand. While descending, during an approaching daylight and in good weather, the crew lost control of the aircraft and crashed into the sea. After the investigation, experts attributed the crash to a combination of errors made by the flight crew and air traffic control. All of the nine crew members and 74 passengers were killed.
In 2011 Air Force Research Laboratory in Ohio, the USA, carried out a study on whether specialized stress-control training sessions, introduced during the acquisition of simulator-based flight skills, enhances a pilot’s performance during subsequent stressful flight operations in an actual aircraft. It was ascertained that the research participants that had been specifically trained in various stress control techniques, operated the aircraft more smoothly, as recorded by aircraft telemetry data, and generally better, as recorded by flight instructor evaluations, than did participants with no such training.
Therefore, teaching pilots about proper stress coping mechanisms led to improvement and successful performance of stressful flying tasks.
Although there are a lot of techniques helping to deactivate stress, specialists claim that the most effective ways for individuals can be mastered by the persons themselves. Observing one’s conduct leads to better solutions in the future. ‘When I find myself in a stressful situation, I try to focus on all theoretical and practical knowledge gained during training and find the best solution for the problem. Though personality type plays an important role, I believe that good training is essential in order to gain obligatory knowledge and the necessary skills to become a professional pilot, ‘states Andrej, a type rating student at Baltic Aviation Academy.
In conclusion, it can be claimed that emotional preparation, qualified training and willingness to take high responsibility are mandatory in order to find the best ways to cope with stress that pilots face every day. After estimating all the benefits and drawbacks of a pilot’s career path, an appropriate flying school must be chosen in order to get the best preparation for dealing with stressful situations. What is more, the need for additional stress training for all pilots must be considered.
(reprinted from The Importance of Coping with Stress that Pilots are Exposed to on a Daily Basis - Aviation Academy
A career of a pilot is often considered to be prestigious and exciting. However, most youngsters are misled by a way too idealistic image in their minds discounting the hard psychological conditions of the occupation. Great responsibility for the safety of many passengers, operating an aircraft overnight, flying in bad weather or in a high density traffic area, temporarily getting off course, equipment malfunction, conflicts with other crew members or air traffic control – these are amongst the most common reasons why pilots have to cope with exceptionally high stress levels in their workplace.
Stress is the sum of biological reactions to any adverse stimulus – be it physical, mental, emotional, internal or external – that tends to disturb the body’s natural balance. Stress can be caused by alcohol consumption, self medication, drug, tobacco use, inadequate diet and nutrition as well as various psychological factors. Fatigue, poor physical fitness and dehydration are also commonly blamed for accelerating increased levels of stress. Although it is difficult to determine or measure the exact impact of stress on pilots, they simply must master the skill of self-control which can prove vital in critical situations.
Despite the fact that pilots are tested psychologically before attending flight training organizations and have to be well prepared to work under high pressure, the most commonly determined cause of crashes remains to be the human factor. For instance, on the 31st of August, 1987, Boeing 737-200 airplane, operated by Thai Airways, crashed in Phuket, Thailand. While descending, during an approaching daylight and in good weather, the crew lost control of the aircraft and crashed into the sea. After the investigation, experts attributed the crash to a combination of errors made by the flight crew and air traffic control. All of the nine crew members and 74 passengers were killed.
In 2011 Air Force Research Laboratory in Ohio, the USA, carried out a study on whether specialized stress-control training sessions, introduced during the acquisition of simulator-based flight skills, enhances a pilot’s performance during subsequent stressful flight operations in an actual aircraft. It was ascertained that the research participants that had been specifically trained in various stress control techniques, operated the aircraft more smoothly, as recorded by aircraft telemetry data, and generally better, as recorded by flight instructor evaluations, than did participants with no such training.
Therefore, teaching pilots about proper stress coping mechanisms led to improvement and successful performance of stressful flying tasks.
Although there are a lot of techniques helping to deactivate stress, specialists claim that the most effective ways for individuals can be mastered by the persons themselves. Observing one’s conduct leads to better solutions in the future. ‘When I find myself in a stressful situation, I try to focus on all theoretical and practical knowledge gained during training and find the best solution for the problem. Though personality type plays an important role, I believe that good training is essential in order to gain obligatory knowledge and the necessary skills to become a professional pilot, ‘states Andrej, a type rating student at Baltic Aviation Academy.
In conclusion, it can be claimed that emotional preparation, qualified training and willingness to take high responsibility are mandatory in order to find the best ways to cope with stress that pilots face every day. After estimating all the benefits and drawbacks of a pilot’s career path, an appropriate flying school must be chosen in order to get the best preparation for dealing with stressful situations. What is more, the need for additional stress training for all pilots must be considered.
04-08-2014, 06:52 AM
#5
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,293
This is a good read.
For folks new to aviation/121, don't go fly or attend a training event if you're having big problems at home. For some reason issues with the spouse/SO always seem to pop up at the worst possible times, probably because you're focused on getting ready to leave or studying.
Years ago I got to the point where I'd just immediately call in sick if my wife wanted to have a big throwdown the night before work. She got the message, and learned to handle things differently and at an appropriate time.
For folks new to aviation/121, don't go fly or attend a training event if you're having big problems at home. For some reason issues with the spouse/SO always seem to pop up at the worst possible times, probably because you're focused on getting ready to leave or studying.
Years ago I got to the point where I'd just immediately call in sick if my wife wanted to have a big throwdown the night before work. She got the message, and learned to handle things differently and at an appropriate time.
04-11-2014, 01:10 AM
#6
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Joined APC: Mar 2014
Position: falcon/Left
Posts: 35
great info you posted.....I would add to your research "adrenal fatigue" as your friends root issue...the adrenal glands regulate blood pressure, blood sugar, cortisol & adrenaline levels and over 50 hormones...they are a big deal but are over looked as the causes of all the symptoms you listed. Adrenal fatigue is caused by continual stress and poor diet.
look into a cortisol saliva test if you find dr w site he list specific info on this test..I posted his site for you but it was deleted...he also has a book on the subject. get tested also for vitamin/mineral deficiency especially magnesium, all b's, & d which if deficient will cause you not to be able to deal with stress. it is estimated that 1 in 3 people are deficient in B's & d.
What heals the adrenal glands? a good clean diet, vitamin/mineral supplements, rest & relaxation, plenty of sleep will heal the adrenal glands. Until you heal your adrenal glands you should limit your exercise routine eliminate sugar, caffeine, alcohol, junk food from your diet as it all stress the adrenal glands.
look into a cortisol saliva test if you find dr w site he list specific info on this test..I posted his site for you but it was deleted...he also has a book on the subject. get tested also for vitamin/mineral deficiency especially magnesium, all b's, & d which if deficient will cause you not to be able to deal with stress. it is estimated that 1 in 3 people are deficient in B's & d.
What heals the adrenal glands? a good clean diet, vitamin/mineral supplements, rest & relaxation, plenty of sleep will heal the adrenal glands. Until you heal your adrenal glands you should limit your exercise routine eliminate sugar, caffeine, alcohol, junk food from your diet as it all stress the adrenal glands.
Last edited by JJ21; 04-11-2014 at 01:23 AM.
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