STRESS~~~~~~~is still a factor for most of us to deal with on a daily basis. It is found in all that we do and all that we face. Positive stress though is the impetus we need to do things and get work done, get jobs accomplished that we have put off for awhile and also to make sure that we have self-worth and are being creative with our lives.

Work is necessary for us to feel that we have made accomplishments in our day and that maybe we just might have made a difference to others. Sitting around idly can cause more stress for us than doing something stressful, like lifting that parked car off your foot! The one you didn’t know was there…. Having nothing to do or not being creative about something on a daily regimen can have negative effects causing depression, guilt and much anxiety and stress.

Worrying is something I advise people not to do. Being concerned is a good substitute, even if it is a different nomenclature for worrying and stress. Constant worry will have lasting effects on your physiology like: elevating your blood pressure, creating a loss in appetite, dehydration, weight loss or weight gain, headaches, constant perspiring, mouth odor as well as increased body odor and even blurred vision. So watch how you handle stress and be positive in your outlook and be positive in following through with making your stress productive.

Enjoy life…smile each day, help someone each day, love each day and learn each day.

Dr Eric Shapira

www.agingmentorservices.com

The end of summer is upon us and the days will be getting shorter. Night will come sooner and people will have to adjust their internal clocks to get used to the changes. Our Circadian rhythms are what our “internal” clocks are all about. They are regulated by our hormones, our endocrine glands that secrete them and our habits.

As we age, we produce less melatonin, a hormone used in our bodies for sleep. When this happens to us it is difficult to get to sleep. Taking this hormone over the counter can be useful if one has fatigue from not sleeping enough and it is recommended that you take up to 4 mg a night, one hour before retiring. This will help regulate your internal clock and put you on the right track again. Some people resort to drinking alcohol before bedtime. This is not recommended due to other characteristics it possesses that can have a negative effect on your mind, memory, and body by dehydrating you for one.