“Honey, this deadline at work has me so stressed, I feel like my heart is going to explode. Part of me wants to quit, though paying the mortgage without a job would be just as stressful.”  Do you ever feel overwhelmed or lost in a situation that you don't know how to control?  Whether it be in relation to our workplace, marriage, home-life, excessive responsibilities or financial situation, Stress is a natural response our body has when we feel under pressure.  Known to be a killer, excessive stress damagess the cells, accelerates the aging process, and can lead to a heart attack.  Luckily, Red Light Therapy (RLT) is a great way to manage stress and the negative effects on the body.

What is stress?  Stress is a normal reaction the body has when changes occur, resulting in physical, emotional, and intellectual responses.  Stressful situations trigger a cascade of stress hormones that produce instant physiological changes in heart-rate, breathing, muscle tension and sweating.  This happens as the autonomic nervous system, or system of nerves responsible for unconscious processes, changes to a state of “fight or flight,” in dealing with the current challenge. 

Stress is not necessarily unhealthy, though long-term or chronic stress does cause significant wear and tear on the body and nerves, creating physical, emotional, and behavioral symptoms.  Physically, stress can cause chest pains, muscle tension, jaw clenching, and a weakened immune system.  Emotionally, prolonged stress can cause irritation, anxiety, depression, and panic attacks.  Often coping with chronic stress, leads to unhealthy behaviors like overeating, drugs, smoking and excessive alcohol intake.  The best way to deal with stress is in finding ways to relax the mind.

In just 20 minutes away from the world, RLT reduces the wear and tear associated with prolonged stress in the body, while increasing the creation of happiness chemicals in the brain.  Mentally, RLT boosts the production of endorphins, resulting in a heightened sense of peace and tranquility.  Physically, RLT enhances blood flow between firing neurons, assisting in the neurotransmitter function of creating dopamine and serotonin.   Emotionally, RLT has similar effects on the psyche as deep meditation, stimulating the relaxing alpha brain waves, as well as the intuitive and creative, theta waves.  Plus, it’s proven to decrease beta waves which cause the anxious feeling. 

Since stress is a normal part of life, it's important to find healthy ways to deal with it. Aside from RLT and exercise, meditation and yoga are great for relaxing the autonomic nervous system. It's also suggested to eat green leafy vegetables, Salmon, dark chocolate, broccoli, eggs, avocados, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and nuts. Avoid sodas, sugary drinks, white flour, processed foods, refined carbohydrates, aspartame, alcohol, fish high in mercury and other things that hinder brain function.

 So, what are you waiting for?  It's time to take care of you! Just make a relaxing appointment, at our McCully Shopping Center or Kailua location, today!  Also, it's a great time to share a package with a friend as the 'Back to School' Session Sale is going on throughout August.  

Sincerely, 

Your Red Light ‘Ohana