Wednesday, May 13, 2020 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Fit For
Sisters
Andrew Loscutoff
Columnist
The problem
with stress
To say we9re all car-
rying a little more stress
around would be an under-
statement. Whether it9s
the anxiety at the grocery
store when seeing a conga
line of other carts coming
toward us, fear of germs on
the takeout box, or watch-
ing the nightly news with
its infatuation with death
and disease, it9s not an easy
situation to handle.
As many sit under the
COVID-19 cloud low
levels of stress are actu-
ally controlling thoughts,
actions, and reactions. The
body, mind, and soul all
take stress in and process it
in different ways.
Stress to the body is
a signal 4 a signal is
associated with a few
chemicals and hormones.
Glucocorticosteroids are
the class of chemicals that
are released under stress.
Whether this is the stress of
seeing the market crash, or
the stress of actually taking
a crash, the body knows no
difference. The chemicals
are the same.
These chemicals produce
acute adaptations within
the body. Cortisol and epi-
nephrine are released. They
tighten down blood vessels,
slow digestion, and shut
down other unnecessary
tasks in order to be ready to
dart away from danger. This
is an evolutionary response.
No one is running away
from their TV when a scary
politician makes a political
statement; this is largely an
overreaction because legiti-
mate danger isn9t present.
Part of the problem is
also how stress affects the
mind. The chemicals hijack
our rational mind, predomi-
nately by deregulating the
prefrontal cortex (the ratio-
nality center of the brain)
and amygdala (which pro-
cesses fear and reactions).
With these two areas under
stress, a person begins
to make snap judgments.
They are more moody,
less empathetic, and trend
towards irrational thoughts.
It is said that under stress,
people take bigger risks:
they gamble more, and they
judge circumstances as far
more threatening than they
may actually be.
These chemicals also
take their toll on the body.
First, stress dumps insulin
into the bloodstream. This
gives a high blood sugar
response followed by a
crash. Upon the crash, the
body craves sweets, and
snacks to try and rebound.
It9s easy to see how the
snacking-and-binging pro-
cess can be initiated. The
blood vessels being con-
stricted causes high blood
pressure; this makes it a lot
easier for heart disease to
take its victims. Tense mus-
cles lead to aches and pains.
There are reasons to be
stressed; everyone has the
same list right now. There
are, however, a lot of irra-
tional, and sensational fears
being propagated. Separate
the things you can con-
trol, and the things that
you can9t. Taking time to
enjoy the beautiful world
around us, without news
flashes and conversations
with the neighbor that turns
into a who9s-more-worried
battle can help. Try breath-
ing exercises, an enjoyable
book, cooking, and craft-
ing. All are ways to reduce
stress. Exercise and diet
play a role; keep the body
healthy and the mind and
spirit will follow.
Above all else, know
how little worrying is going
to help, and that enjoying
the ride will be the only
way to get through.
PHOTO COURTESY BARRAGE STUDIOS
A hiker injured by an accident with a machete had to be airlifted out of the forest west of Camp Sherman.
Machete injury forces rescue
A man injured himself
when he struck himself in
the leg with a machete while
hiking in the Mt. Jefferson
Wilderness Area north
west of Camp Sherman on
Saturday evening.
The 28-year-old hiker
called 911 at about 7:08 p.m.
The man was traveling with
a companion and his fellow
hiker immediately wrapped
the wound and they began
hiking out, but were a couple
miles from the trailhead.
Jefferson
County
Deputies and search and res-
cue (SAR) personnel from
the Camp Sherman Hasty
Team responded to the scene
along with medics from
the Sisters-Camp Sherman
Fire Department, an OSP
Trooper, and a Forest Service
Law Enforcement Officer.
The man walked as far
as he could and met the first
arriving units on the trail
who provided advanced
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541-941-1604
~ Serving Sisters Since 1993 ~
Jeremy Roberson
541-549-0109
|
304 W. Adams Ave.
|
Sisters
9
— CCB#213401 —
medical care. A wheeled lit-
ter was hiked in and the man
was transported to a waiting
ambulance at the trailhead.
He transported about a half
mile by ground ambulance to
a waiting Air Life Helicopter
who transported him to
St. Charles Bend at about
10:15 p.m.
The Jefferson County
Sheriff9s Office thanked all
those involved with the res-
cue and reminded the public
that SAR assets are stressed
during the COVID-19 pan-
demic restrictions.
<We ask people to please
be extra cautious during this
time and to choose where
they go wisely,= the depart-
ment stated in a release.
Thank you for shopping
at Sisters Meat and
Smokehouse!
Our family-based team has been
working hard for our customers.
Interruptions in our supply chain
have been challenging but we won’t
compromise on the quality you’ve come
to expect. We have tripled our supply
of Sitka Alaska Seafood which is flown
to us weekly. Once you try our fish,
you won’t buy fish anywhere else...we
guarantee it! As you can imagine, recent
beef supply and the prices we pay for
beef has become a bit unpredictable.
Please be understanding that we
may be temporarily out on an item
or experience an increase in what we
pay for product. Until things return to
normal, please know that we are doing
our best to keep the shelves full
and prices down.
We appreciate your patience,
understanding and loyalty!
OPEN 9-6 DAILY!
541-719-1186
110 S. Spruce St., Sisters
MEATS • CHEESES • EATERY • DRINKERY