Smells Like Keen Spirits
Lowering an elevated blood pressure or blood sugar can be as easy finding the right smell, taste or distraction
Your blood pressure is higher than it should be, and your blood sugar levels are problematic. Perhaps you're talking to your physician about medications to alleviate these potential threats to your health.
Maybe you should check your stress levels first.
Although the mechanism isn't clear, experts know that how you feel emotionally can affect your health.
"Clearly epidemiological evidence suggests a strong correlation between stress and a variety of chronic illnesses, such as elevated blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, immunology problems and infectious diseases," says Alan Hirsch, M.D.
When you're stressed you're programmed to react with a fight-or-flight response. Your body releases cortisol, the so-called stress hormone, which may increase blood pressure and blood sugar levels, even predisposing you to diabetes, according to Dr. Hirsch, neurological director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation, Chicago.
Unfortunately, it's almost impossible to stay cool when you're changing jobs, facing a family crisis or encountering other stressful situations, such as the holidays. You can, however, find ways to deal with stress before it affects your health, say the professionals.
"Stress happens automatically," says Marilyn Wilcher, senior director of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind Body Medicine, Boston. "You have to teach [yourself] the antidote, which is the relaxation response."
According to the Benson-Henry Institute, you can develop a relaxation response by repeating a word, sound, phrase or muscular activity. At the same time, ignore everyday thoughts that pop into your head. Practice this once or twice a day.
"If you really want to benefit from stress reduction you have to do it on a regular basis, like brushing your teeth," Wilcher, who works with schools and companies showing people how to reverse negative thinking and reduce stress, says.
Hirsch, whose expertise is smell and taste-related disorders, suggests that foods or even the aroma of certain foods may have a soothing effect.
"Look for foods that provide comfort through associations," Dr. Hirsch says. "If you grew up with Pez [the candies in the dispensers], that can be relaxing."
Aromas can be calming if they evoke fond memories. For example, if you loved coming home to something baking in the oven, just the smell of cinnamon or cinnamon and sugar may bring stress relief.
If you let stress build up during the day, try these four easy steps to unwind at night:
1.Eat chocolate in modest amounts
Chocolate may remind you of good times in your childhood, providing psychological benefits. The chemical compounds in the chocolate may have anti-anxiety effects, according to Dr. Hirsch.
2. Inhale a lavender scent.
"Lavender tends to increase alpha waves that provide a relaxed state," Dr. Hirsch says. But avoid the smell of a green apple. "It tends to cause claustrophobia," he says.
3. Take a hot bath so your muscles aren't so constricted.
4. Find a distraction such as a movie or concert.
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