Disclaimer: I am not a medical practitioner by any stretch of the imagination – merely an individual with an interest in my own physical wellbeing. Please talk to a qualified person if you have any serious medical conditions.
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Modern medicine is wonderful. That said, humans – especially in the “western world” – have become increasingly lazy in taking responsibility for their own health and well-being. It is easier to pop a pill or take a shot than to live a healthy lifestyle where that condition can be addressed and even in some cases reversed!
I went to see a doctor this week. Not my regular doctor and not because I felt particularly unwell. I just needed to get a fresh perspective on some of the health issues that I am struggling with and need clarity on. He changed my blood pressure medication and sent me for some blood tests, one at my own request. (Yes, I CHOSE to go and bleed!) On top of that, he gave me an injection to help clear some mucus from my lungs. The injection itself was painless, but the drug stung like no-one’s business!
The test I specifically requested was a blood cortisol test. I took it – along with three others – early on Wednesday morning. Why is this a significant test? Let’s start at the beginning.
When a body thinks it’s in danger, the pituitary gland in the brain sends out panic signals to the adrenal glands in the form of adrenocorticotropic hormone. These panic signals trigger the release of epinephrine and cortisol, two fight-or-flight hormones. Epinephrine is the “Superman”-hormone that enables ordinary housewives to lift cars off toddlers, and it also dulls pain to a great extent. Cortisol aids and abets epinephrine by shutting off all non-essential bodily functions for that time period, increasing glucose production, as well as blocking off certain cell receptors to ensure that there are more nutrients available to the important organs.
The problem is that modern man creates his own “danger”, and the problem is never really solved, meaning that the body is on high alert almost constantly. This leads to an over-secretion of cortisol over a prolonged period.
Cortisol’s downside is that it keeps body cells from taking up sugar and amino acids, the building blocks of proteins, and also leads to the build-up of fatty deposits where they shouldn’t be deposited in the first place (around organs and on artery walls). It breaks down muscle tissue and bone. This causes damage to the body in the long run with the result of strokes, heart attacks, diabetes and the odd cancer or three. It also creates feelings of fatigue and severe depression, leads to osteoporosis, raises blood pressure and puts pressure on other organs such as the liver. Finally, it depresses the body’s immune system, making it more susceptible to disease.
Getting my cortisol levels measured is the first step towards taking back control of my life. I want to know whether my body is under pressure from inside, so that I can address the underlying cause, not merely treat symptoms. If prolonged exposure to stress is a factor, then that can be sorted out as well, even if the remedy might seem radical.
It is like being on a wilderness trek. Having a map or a GPS device is cool, but then you still need to know two things: where you are and where you need to be.
In a week or two, I shall have an answer to the first. Then, all that remains is to plot the best route to get to the second point, even if it is the wildest ride ever. Buckle up!