Features
Reversing stress (Pt1) …the role of Emotional Surgery
Stress is a natural component of everyday living and as is said the body requires a bit of it to keep it in shape and focus. It is a bit like an organisation undergoing fire drills to keep the system in good nick.
The body practises preparing itself for fight, flight and freeze as the acceptable reactions in times of stress, the first two being the most common in times of danger.
The body’s biochemical systems control the reactions. Two hormones produced by the adrenal medulla (the inner part of an adrenal gland, controls hormones that initiate the flight or fight response) and cortex are paramount in the preparations.
Adrenaline is secreted by the adrenal medulla and it causes the ‘get go’ sympathetic nervous system to respond by increasing pulse rate and blood pressure, decrease blood sugar level by pushing the sugar into the tissues and shunting of blood from the digestive tract to the muscles, all in preparation for heightened body activity.
The effects of the adrenaline increases metabolism and generates increased energy, for effective action.
These actions are all quick and purposeful. Once the threat is dealt with the body reorganises itself through the secretion of cortisol from the adrenal cortex which brings the body to normal.
It sets another chain reaction to pulse rate and blood pressure and increases blood sugar level, the opposite of what prepares the body for action. The time it takes to return the body to normal varies from person to person. People with a greater ability to control their emotions do a better job.
The stew of stress hormones secreted when a person is upset, takes hours to become reabsorbed in the body and fade away. Within the time to full withdrawal of the hormones the slightest upset mounts an even exaggerated response.
It is the reason why in a fight or quarrel anything said however innocuous creates its own chain reaction. It is the touching of a raw nerve.
In the scenarios where there is no need to fight or flight, the absence of physical danger, the energy generated must find expression. Most of the stress of today’s existence fall into this category.
It is in our everyday life, work related, relationships, sibling rivalry or quarrels, examinations or interviews and on the roads, pervasive in character.
These are described as environmental stress. The other is internal stress. People usually bring it on themselves, worrying about things we know we have no control over.
Others invariably and knowingly put themselves in stressful situations. The short term stress leads to a faster pulse or heartbeat and rapid breathing, increased sweating and creating a sick feeling in the stomach described as ‘butterflies’.
It also leads to headaches, tense feeling, difficulty in concentration and a sense of frustration.
It is however, the slow decline in hormones and the regularity of arousals that appear to constantly mount a heightened agitation that leads to long-term symptoms of headaches, poor sleep, poor appetite, nervous disposition, fatigue, confused and unable to take decisions. It may affect personal appearance, mood swings and lead to dependence on food, alcohol, tobacco and drugs and also affect sex life.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
Features
The Palestinian martyr-Little Hind Rajab
THE wickedness of some people in our world is gradually getting out of bounds. From local arena to international arena, reports of wicked acts that defies logic, is on the rise.
Russia has attacked Ukraine and as a result, the economies of many countries have been negatively impacted. Residential apartments which have no military purpose. Just sheer wickedness and cruelty.
After this came the Brutal attack on Gaza by the Israel Defence Forces. Hospitals were bombed, buildings were razed down and civilians were deliberately targeted which is a war crime according to the Geneva Convention.
The IDF will release pamphlets in the skies informing them to move to certain specified areas. They move there with their families only to be bombed again without warning.
It was one of such movement from one place to another that, the family of a 5 year Palestinian girl called Hind Rajab and her family, travelling in a vehicle, were shot at by an IDF Tank.
This wounded girl managed to call emergency services to come and save them.
The sad thing is that while this brave little girl kept talking to the emergency response person on the phone, telling them that they should come quickly and that she was afraid.
She further told the response team on phone that any time she tries to speak, blood comes into her mouth and it soils her dress and she dies not want her mum to scold her so they should come quickly.
The response team rushed as usual to her location but they were also shot and killed, the driver and his assistant, in a vehicle clearly marked as an ambulance. Ten days later when they got to her location, Hind Rajab and her family were dead and their vehicle was riddled with 335 bullets.
The wickedness with which the IDF waged the war against Hamas, the administrative authority in Gaza, was unbelievable, given the damage to civilians both collateral and in most cases deliberate.
There are reports of some Doctors from the US and other countries, who have described how children they attended to, who were brought in dead, had evidence of sniper bullets.
A report by one of the media platforms, indicated that one of the IDF snipers who died recently, had bragged about shooting children in the abdomen so they will suffer before dying.
What baffles me in all these atrocities, is why Jews who have been saved by a collective action of the world, from Hitler and his Nazis from destruction, infamously known as the Holocaust, is now visiting mayhem on others, namely the Palestinians.
One begins to wonder if Hitler was right after all and that he saw something that the rest of the world did not notice about the Jews. I must admit that it is not all Jews that are racist. It is the Zionist who are the problem with their Talmud which teaches that Jesus is burning in hot feaces.
They deliberately teach their children to hate other people who are not Jews especially the Palestinians. They do not consider the Palestinians as humans and therefore they believe they have the God given right to treat them anyway anyhow.
Hind Rajab’s death has pricked the conscience of the world and countries which used to blindly support Israel, are now putting pressure on them to observe a ceasefire as part of a peace negotiation.
Let the world through the UN show that it does not support barbarism and that the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands by Israel, must come to an end.
NB: ‘CHANGE KOTOKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KOFI BAAKO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’
By Laud Kissi-Mensah
Features
Angioplasty: A comprehensive overview of the procedure and its applications
Angioplasty is a minimally invasive medical procedure used to widen narrowed or blocked arteries or blood vessels. The procedure involves the insertion of a catheter, a small tube, into the affected artery, followed by the inflation of a balloon to widen the artery. In some cases, a stent, a small mesh tube, may be placed to keep the artery open.
Indications for Angioplasty
Angioplasty is often used to treat conditions such as:
1. Coronary artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart.
2. Peripheral artery disease: Narrowing or blockage of the arteries in the legs or arms.
3. Atherosclerosis: Buildup of plaque in the arteries, which can lead to narrowing or blockage.
The Angioplasty Procedure
The angioplasty procedure typically involves the following steps:
1. Preparation: The patient is given local anesthesia and may be sedated to help them relax.
2. Insertion of the catheter: A small incision is made in the skin, and a catheter is inserted into the affected artery.
3. Guidance: The catheter is guided to the affected area using imaging techniques such as fluoroscopy or angiography.
4. Inflation of the balloon: The balloon on the catheter is inflated to widen the artery.
5. Stent placement: A stent may be placed to keep the artery open.
6. Removal of the catheter: The catheter is removed, and the incision site is closed.
Benefits of Angioplasty
Angioplasty offers several benefits, including:
1. Improved blood flow: Angioplasty can help improve blood flow to the affected area, reducing symptoms such as chest pain or leg pain.
2. Minimally invasive: Angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure, which means that it requires only a small incision and can reduce recovery time.
3. Reduced risk of complications: Angioplasty can reduce the risk of complications associated with more invasive surgical procedures.
Potential Risks and Complications
While angioplasty is generally a safe procedure, there are potential risks and complications, including:
1. Bleeding or hematoma: Bleeding or bruising at the incision site.
2. Artery damage: Damage to the artery during the procedure.
3. Restenosis: Narrowing or blockage of the artery again after the procedure.
Conclusion
Angioplasty is a highly effective procedure for treating narrowed or blocked arteries or blood vessels. While it carries some risks and complications, the benefits of improved blood flow and reduced symptoms make it a valuable treatment option for many patients.
References:
1. American Heart Association. (2020). Angioplasty and Stenting.
2. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. (2020). Angioplasty and Stent Placement.
3. Mayo Clinic. (2020). Angioplasty: What You Need to Know.
4. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. (2019). Angioplasty and Stenting in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.
This article provides a comprehensive overview of angioplasty, including its indications, procedure, benefits, and potential risks and complications.
By Robert Ekow Grimmond-Thompson
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