Anger causes untimely death

Researchers have discovered that angry men aged 20 to 40 were one-and-a-half times more likely to be dead 35 years later than those who were calmer. They believe this is due to a number of factors linking stress to physiological damage. The frequent release of adrenaline during periods of stress damages DNA, which could lead to life-threatening illnesses such as multiple sclerosis.

Feelings of anger produce a heightened response in the amygdala, the part of the brain associated with survival instincts. Angry emotions prompt the amygdala to signal a heightened state of anxiety to the rest of the brain and the body, increasing blood flow to the limbs and heart, which makes relaxation impossible.

Those exposed to anger-inducing stimuli without discussing how it made them feel are more likely to experience insomnia than those who engage in an emotional ‘debrief’, according to neuroscientists. Writing the cause of anger frees up the space in the head, dampening the fear response and encouraging relaxation.

 Emotions such as excitement or anger result in the release of stress hormones cortisol, adrenaline and testosterone, which put the body into flight-or-flight mode. The chemical surge increases blood flow to the brain and triggers the swelling of both blood vessels and nerves surrounding the brain. The pressure can result in tension and headaches.

Highly hostile individuals performed significantly worse on a simple inhalation task than those who were rated less hostile. When you are angry, neurotransmitters and hormones are sent through the bloodstream which, in turn, increase both the heart rate and muscle tension. Frequent occurrence of this reaction puts a strain on neurons in the hypothalamus, the brain’s ‘stress control centre’, meaning that it becomes harder for the neurons to switch off. And the ‘happy hormone’ serotonin is significantly depleted in some aggressive individuals.

Too much cortisol in the body – released by adrenal glands during angry outbursts can cause an imbalance in blood sugar, repress the thyroid and even decrease bone density. When released initially, cortisol triggers an anti-inflammatory response by the immune system, but prolonged increase of the hormone makes the body more susceptible to viruses. As blood pressure rises thanks to a surge in adrenaline, the heart beats faster, increasing the risk of potentially fatal abnormal heart rhythms. Adrenaline also signals for the release of platelets, which can trigger blood clots or block arteries – particularly dangerous if arteries are restricted by a build-up of cholesterol.

Studies have shown that men in particular who score highly on trait anger scales are three times more likely to suffer from general heart disease. Once the ‘fight or flight’ signal has been issued by the brain, blood supply is directed to areas needed for action such as the limbs. That means blood supply to the digestive system is reduced, with a reduced amount of oxygen provided to keep vital ‘good’ bacteria in the gut alive. A dampened immune system can lead to a weakened gut lining, increasing vulnerability to harmful bacteria entering the area.

Heightened stress reduces the amount of available glucocorticoids -the hormone involved in the synthesis of the skin-plumping compound collagen. Lack of collagen contributes towards saggy, wrinkled skin. The weakened immune system caused by stress responses increases inflammatory reactions to pathogens underneath the skin.

Enhanced periods of anger disrupt the skin-barrier function, making it easier for allergens to penetrate and resulting in skin conditions such as dermatitis and psoriasis. Repressing, rather than expressing anger puts you at an higher risk of developing health problems. This increased risk of hypertension for angry individuals who tended to keep their anger below a level of consciousness. By repressing emotion, excess stress hormones remain in the emotion-processing areas of the brain for longer period making physical reactions chronic.
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How to boost your energy

There are some simple habits we can build into our daily lives which can have a positive impact on our energy levels and overall health, the power of routine-especially when it comes to eating healthily, through meal planning and getting regular exercise can boost energy.

Many people will suffer with insomnia at some point, but making small tweaks to night-time routine could be all it takes to sort out sleep pattern. Human have a master 'body clock' in our brains - also known as the circadian rhythm - that helps us maintain a 24-hour sleep-wake cycle. Disturbing this sleep-wake cycle can expand waist lines and make human prone to illnesses such as diabetes and heart disease.

One of the hormones that can affect human body clock is melatonin. Blue light, emitted from digital devices, lowers melatonin levels and disrupts sleep, people who wore short wavelength-blocking glasses for three hours before bedtime for two weeks had increase night-time melatonin levels. Limiting screen time, applying screen filters or wearing glasses that block blue light improve night sleep. Watching screens from phones and tablets late in the evening boosts alertness and plays havoc with human internal body clock.

Slow-release carbohydrates are a healthier option for breakfast as they keep your blood sugar levels more stable between meals and help you feel more satiated. Getting a good quota of protein will also fill you up for longer. Choose more nourishing breakfasts like porridge with fruit, a vegetable omelette, or wholemeal toast with peanut butter. Water increases energy levels as dehydration leads to fatigue, drink enough water.

Plan your meals- make a master ingredients list, do your shopping and plan time to prepare your meals. Planning ahead can ensure you eat a tasty, healthy diet while limiting food waste. Take a stretch break- regular stretching can relieve stiff muscles and joints. To experience the full benefit, try range-of-motion exercises, which include shoulder shrugs, wrist bends, and knee lifts.

One of the easiest ways to have a major impact on your health and fitness is to move more. This can include walking or cycling to work instead of getting the bus and taking the stairs, not the lift.
Human body is not designed to be sitting for hours. Tracking your habits to discover how you are managing your health. There are many apps for doing so on smart phones that allow you to tick off the goals you achieve each day, remind you to stay on top of them and to check your progress.
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Treating insomnia may reduce the risk of mental health problems

Treating insomnia with online cognitive behavioural therapy CBT could reduce mental health problems such as anxiety, depression, and paranoia. Sleep disruption is a driving factor in the occurrence of paranoia, hallucinatory experiences, and other mental health problems in so many people.

One group received online cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) for insomnia; the other group did not but had access to standard treatments. Those who received the CBT sleep treatment showed large reductions in insomnia, paranoia and hallucinatory experiences. The treatment also led to improvements in depression, anxiety, nightmares and psychological well-being.

The programme was interactive, with participants' daily sleep diaries used to tailor the advice. Researchers monitored participants' mental health through a series of online questionnaires. Those who received CBT may not experience anxiety disorder. Treating disrupted sleep could provide a key route for improving mental health.

Sleep problems are common in people with mental health disorders, insomnia is the cause of psychological difficulties. The results showed that insomnia may be a cause of mental health problems. A good night's sleep can make a difference to people's psychological health.

The cognitive-behavioural therapy was delivered through an online programme. It included behavioural, cognitive and educational components, such as learning to associate bed with sleep, encouraging people to put time aside to reflect on their day before going to bed, and facilitating a pro-sleep environment.
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How to break sugar addiction

Insomnia, regular breakouts, craving for sweet and exhausted taste buds may be an indicator that you are suffering from a sugar addiction.

 Sugar addiction can leads to overweight and obesity. Excessive sugar consumption in different forms destroys body systems generally.

Acne is an indication that there is too much sugar in the diet, damage to the skin proteins, collagen and elastin, leading to premature wrinkles and aging.

Change in taste bud; taste buds are addicted to sweet foods and may not want any food that is not sweet.

Diet high in sugar can increase cancer growth; tumors used sugar as energy to mutate and spread across the body.

Bacteria in the mouth feeds on sugars which creates harmful acids causing tooth decay, destroy tooth enamel and form hole in the tooth.

The pancreas releases insulin to transfer glucose to the cell's after consuming sugar, the higher the sugar peak, the more extreme the sugar dip that will follow.

Sugar interrupts the supply of important neurotransmitter precursors through the blood-brain barrier - and particularly ones that help produce serotonin and dopamine, which influence mood.

Excess sugar consumption decrease the amount of good cholesterol in the bloodstream and increase the amount of bad cholesterol in the body, leading to heart disease.

The liver struggles to process excessive amounts of sugar. The unprocessed sugars are converted to fat calls, which are distributed throughout the body. It can leads to obesity.

Too much sugar in the body can cause bacteria to move from the colon to the small intestine, proliferate on the foods digesting in the small intestine and cause bloating, acid reflux, gas and abdominal cramping.

Sugar can be remove from the body by replacing process foods with whole foods and by replacing all processed drinks with water.
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Depression changes the structure of the brain

Depression is a mood disorder that causes a regular feeling of sadness, rejection, sorrow and loss of interest. It affects feelings, thinking and behavior.

The recent scanning study shows how depression changes the structure of brain by causing alterations on white matter that contains fibre tracts that enable brain cells to communicate with one another by electrical signals.

White matter is a key component of the brain's wiring and its disruption has been linked to problems with emotion processing and thinking skills.

Scientists used a cutting-edge technique to map the structure of white matter and discovered that white matter integrity was reduced in people who are depressed but normal in the group of people that are not depressed.

 Symptoms of depression are low mood,  feelings of emptiness, forgetfulness, fatigue, restlessness, anxiety, worthlessness, helplessness, insomnia, loss of interest in activities and thoughts of suicide.
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Dangers of social isolation

Social isolation is associated with different health problems like depression, dementia, insomnia, mental challenges and it can cause premature death.

It causes sleeplessness, which can leads to cellular stress and the activation of an unfolded protein response (UPR)- a stress response.

If UPR is activated for a long period of time it can results into premature aging, diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. UPR causes harmful inflammation, prevents healthy cellular activities in the body and kill healthy cells.

Associating with friends, colleagues and friends can prevent social isolation, starting a discussion with strangers when friends are not around can also help. You can seek medical help if you are not getting better after relating with people.
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