Women who are physically fit may be able to ward off the effect of stress on their body and therefore possibly giving them better protection against developing high blood pressure. Physically fit women have a lessened blood pressure response to stress, which may be why fit women have less of a risk for developing hypertension and coronary heart disease.
The reason why this study was different is that previous studies looking at this issue failed to take into account physical fitness, gender or control for factors such as anger and discomfort.
What kinds of stressors were used?
In the study, the researchers first placed 13 men and 13 women aged 19 to 38 with above-average physical activity levels on stationary bikes and measured their cardiac and respiratory fitness.
The investigators then increased mental stress by asking participants to answer a math question and then increased physical stress by either placing a cold compress to their forehead or immersing their right hand in cold water for 2 minutes.
What was measured?
The researchers measured the participants' blood pressure, heart rate, blood flow and breathing rate. They also took into account each individual's anger, discomfort and perceived difficulty while taking the tests.
What were the results of the study?
While the participants' hands were immersed in ice water, the women's systolic blood pressure -- the upper number in a blood-pressure reading -- rose. Women with the highest fitness levels were less likely to have this reaction than less-fit women.
Psychophysiology 2002;39:568-576
This study primarily addresses the physical elements of stress. I have my own personal observation on the effects of exercise on emotional stress. Dr. Ken Cooper's first edition of "Aerobics" in 1968 was the inspiration to start running; I started my exercise journey 34 years ago. I've run continuously since then and logged close to 50,000 miles of running.
Exercise has really made a major difference in my life and helped me to achieve many of my goals.
It's very clear to me that while exercise can help a person regain your physical health, exercise doesn't address all of the emotional stressors that can affect your heart and therefore your blood pressure. This was certainly true for me when I was challenged with a personal emotional catastrophe that forced me to seriously examine my own emotional health.
That crisis motivated me to pursue a variety of healing modalities. I rapidly concluded a cognitively based psychotherapy approach was not helpful to me. However, I discovered that I responded well to many of the energy-based programs.
By the time I learned of psychological acupressure approaches like EFT, I had addressed and resolved most of my emotional challenges. I believe EFT would have saved me years of grief and struggling. Since I started my formal medical training 25 years ago, I have never encountered any more profoundly and rapidly effective tools like EFT.
You can obtain the free manual of how to do EFT for yourself. I also created a video resource that offers ten hours of instruction. It contains edited segments of four separate workshops I gave. Had you attended all the workshops it would have cost over $500. But now you can obtain them all for only $97. Plus there is a full one-year guarantee on the videos.
If you can't afford the tapes please purchase them and return them. I assure you that we will promptly and courteously return your money and you will have had the chance to acquire a new and powerful skill to help you in your healing journey.
If you have more serious emotional issues you will want to consider consulting with an EFT therapist. You can find one on our referral page.
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