well read
FEELING GREAT
Jeanne Segal, Ph.D.
This new paperback shows 75 good exer
clses/exoeriences that bring about
oositlve images and dynamic changes
1n life-style and well-being. The
contents include methods which show
how to: 1. make the most of your body;
2. manage stress 1n the midst
of change;
3. balance and harmonize emotions;
4. enhance and utilize intelligence,
5. expand and release your
sensual awareness.
PSYCHOSOMATIC ILLNESS, STRESS,
and BIOFEEDBACK
Dr. Pelletier has done much research on
psychosomatic illness, stress, and mind/
body interaction. Research and clinical
practice with biofeedback and meditation
have demonstrated that many autonomic
(or Involuntary nervous system) functions
can be brought under conscious control 1f
an individual obtains Information about
that process. These functions include
brain waves, heart rate, muscle tension,
body temperature and other more experimental
applications such as stomach acidity and
white blood cell levels.
In biofeedback training, the patient
learns that breathing in a slow and regular
manner or sitting 1n an upright posture
helps to decelerate the heart rate.
Slouching or breathing shallowly and
oulckly tends to accelerate it. .Jhen
thinkino of a pleasant or relaxing vacation,
he notes that h1s heart rate oeglns to de
celerate. Conversely, when he thinks
aoout a perplexing or stress-inducing
situation such as h1s income tax or an
argument with a close friend, his heart
rate accelerates. Feelings of heaviness
and warmth 1n the area of the heart will
allow the heart rate to decelerate, while
feelings of lightness and constriction in
the same area will actually produce
acceleration.
The fundamental process 1n biofeedback
1s to move from an unconscious awareness
of the effect stress has on brain waves,
heart rate, muscle tension and body tem
perature to becoming consciously aware
of these processes during relaxation. As
the client progresses, they use the bio
feedback instruments less and less.
MIND AS HEALER, MIND AS SLAYER
Holistic Approach to Preventing
Stress Disorders
Kenneth R. Pelletier, Ph.D.
Pelletier writes one of the best books
describing the connection between stress,
health and healing. It's four major
sections Include: 1) sources of stress;
2) guidelines for evaluating one's own
stress levels; 3) profiles of various
disease-prone personalities; 4) a
practical section concerned with the
prevention of stress-related diseases
through such techniques as meditation
and biofeedback. This book discusses
how people can create a satisfying life
and help prevent sickness by doing some
thing positive about their own health.
HYPERTENSION
(High blood pressure)
Hypertension is a silent, mysterious
killer - silent because 1t has no charac
teristic symptoms; mysterious because, In
more than 90 percent of the cases, the
cause 1s unknown and there 1s no cure.
If hypertension 1s not controlled, serious
cariovascular complications may result,
Including stroke and congestive heart
failure.
High blood pressure occurs when the
blood vessels 1n the body get constric
ted either by nervous Impluses or blocked
by a buildup of plaaue in the arteries.
The heart then has to beat harder than
normal to get the blood out and through
the vascular system. This forceful beat
increases the pressure of the blood
flowing ^rom the heart through the art
eries and veins.
A sphygmomanometer measures two aspects
of blood pressure: systolic and diastolic.
Systolic 1s a measure of the pressure
when the heart contracts; diastolic pres
sure 1s the heart's dilation phase. Blood
pressure 1s recorded as :
systolic
di astollc
■Normal blood pressure is approximately:
120
“SC
Once diagnosed, hypertension can be
treated and managed. Sometimes diet and
exercise alone can control it. Restric
tion of salt Intake and medication are
other forms of treatment.