3/29/2007
Spring is in the air, but what good is spring fever if you are too hassled to even notice the fresh air or heed the call of the outdoors? With the new season comes new opportunity to do some mental spring cleaning. Did you know that stress can be life threatening? Scientists now know that being wound too tight can lead to behaviors such as eating too much, losing sleep, and drinking to much. If left untreated these stressors can cause depression. And doctors say depression mainly affects the immune system and how our brains work. They now know that strokes and heart attacks can result from inflammation. People who are depressed have two-thirds more chance of having a heart attack or stroke.
And it doesn't end there. Stress affects such diseases as rheumatoid arthritis, too.
If you or someone you know suffers from depression or to learn more, plan on attending a special health talk at this year’s St. John’s Life Fair. Dr. Roger Paige will be speaking on the subject and tell you how you can battle the blues starting at 8:30 at the Leggett & Platt Althetic Center. That’s this Saturday, March 31st. And for more information about other health talks and our featured speaker, Richard Simmons, call St. John’s Referral One at 625-2000 or log onto stj.com.
