Stress is not a disease, but prolonged exposure to intensive work-related pressure can reduce effectiveness at work, and affect people’s physical and psychological health. Research has shown that the work environment is a major – and in many cases the primary –
The body’s initial reaction to a crisis or threatening situation is to activate the “fight or flight” stress response, in which the sympathetic nervous system primes the body to take either confrontational or avoidance action. In facing an emergency, the body releases
The power of the mind is of extreme importance when dealing with high levels of stress. Instead of succumbing to the dire effects of stress, the mind can be conditioned to channel stress into a positive experience. The general perception that stress
When faced with stressful situations, the body develops a stress response, which involves interaction between different body systems to cope with the stressors. The stress response starts in the brain, where cognitive appraisal of perceived threats and stressors in the environment is
Any physical activity or movement of some sort, “activates” most of the physiological systems in the body, such as the respiratory, cardiovascular, and musculoskeletal systems, as well as hormonal and immune responses. Regular exercise results in the inherent chemistry of these systems
The human hand truly is an anatomical wonder, considering how much your use your hands daily, and all the different movements your wrists, hands, and fingers are capable of. Each hand and wrist has 27 little bones, which enables all the different
Stroke is the fourth highest cause of death from natural causes in South Africa, closely following on the top three: TB, diabetes, and heart disease. This is according to the latest information available from Statistics SA, namely for 2016. In 2015, stroke
A wide variety of factors can increase the risk of stroke. It is possible to have inherited an increased genetic predisposition to having a stroke, illustrated by family history. Aging is another factor that increases risk. However, there are many risk factors
Growing old gracefully is not for the faint hearted, the brittle boned or the weak. Brittle bones due to osteoporosis, in combination with muscle loss (sarcopenia), can result in falls and broken bones. Muscle mass and strength, in particular, are very important
Like a silent thief in the night, you are unaware of the presence of osteoporosis, until something breaks suddenly – a window in the case of a burglar; or a bone in your body in the case of osteoporosis. What is bone?
