Stress, which is seen as a natural human reaction that can happen to every individual in daily life, is also a part of life in a sense. When sudden and unexpected changes occur in our lives or when we encounter some difficulties, our body produces mental and physical reactions. Due to the earthquakes affecting 11 provinces centered in Kahramanmaraş, we are faced with mental wounds as well as physical wounds.
Earthquake is a sudden and unexpected natural disaster that can cause traumatic effects. While it is possible to be traumatized under intense stress even in the face of an expected event, our stress rate and risk of being traumatized increase in disasters such as natural disasters that occur unexpectedly and suddenly and over which we have no control. Earthquake creates fear and anxiety in the acute period. In the long term, it can cause post-traumatic stress disorder. Stress responses help our bodies adapt to new situations. While low levels of stress due to daily events bring positive results to the person, long-term and high stress levels that lead to anxiety disorder due to our past experiences and disasters can cause serious damage to our body.
General Surgery Specialist Prof.Dr. Dr. We asked Murat Aksoy.
Saying that low-dose stress is directly proportional to success, Aksoy; “The most classic example of this is the stress we experience in the time it takes to finish a job on time. However, if the source of stress is natural disasters such as earthquakes that affect our whole country, it can be severe. If we do not have the opportunity to eliminate stress and therefore it continues for a long time, our body activates a number of defense mechanisms to cope with stress, which can cause diseases.
“The cardiovascular system is most affected”
Emphasizing that the most important one among the body’s responses to stress is the changes in the cardiovascular system; “When we encounter a source of stress, our heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, and breathing becomes more frequent. Because at that time, an external threat is perceived. If the cause of stress disappears, the system returns to its original state. However, when it becomes continuous, the body may lose its balance of defense and attack and come to the point of struggling with diseases. These include heart disease, high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, obesity, depression and anxiety.
“It is important to support the feeling of well-being with natural methods”
Murat Aksoy emphasized that the unpredictability of natural disasters such as earthquakes causes the person to feel a sense of helplessness, causes changes in his life and causes psychological problems, while depression and post-traumatic stress disorder are the most common mental disorders after the earthquake.
Stating that they are concerned that depression may be the biggest health problem in the world by 2030 by the health authorities, Aksoy emphasizes that the increase in the use of depression drugs can be balanced by turning to phytotherapeutic products and creating solutions in more natural ways. Aksoy stated that we can choose products that support the management of mood disorders, depression, stress and anxiety with natural ingredients in these sad and difficult days; “There are some studies that show that standardized patented Saffron extract reduces negative moods by about 31% when used alone, and has a positive effect of about 42% when used together with antidepressants. Saffron, that is, the top of the female organ (stigma) of the flowers of the Crocussativus plant has been cherished not only as a valuable spice but also as a medicine that can be effective in many diseases. Likewise, studies conducted today show us that saffron has a positive effect of about 33% in menopausal symptoms such as anxiety and depression, without any estrogenic effect. It is very difficult to collect, therefore it is an expensive herbal product.
The standardized extract of Rhodiola, a plant species from the Crassulaceae family, also helps in stabilizing the mood in mild to moderate depression.”
Effects are seen in 1 hour!
From phytotherapeutic products; Emphasizing that branches such as psychiatry, gynecology, gastroenterology, dietitian, surgery, urology, physical therapy and orthopedics, athlete health and cognitive performance can benefit, Aksoy said; “Melissa extract is also an effective herbal product. As it rapidly reduces the cortisol level in the saliva, it balances the anxiety picture and supports your daily performance. Another example is passiflora extract. Studies have shown that it provides improvement in mild and moderate anxiety scores with no side effects. A significant improvement was observed in the anxiety scores of the patients who were given passiflora extract 90 minutes before the surgical operations, at the 10th and 30th minutes. Of course, it is necessary to make sure that all these extracts are standardized and patented. Lavender oil has also been found to be effective in coping with general anxiety problems.
In addition to all these, Aksoy stated that 30 minutes of exercise a day, social activities and being open to changes are among the healthy ways to cope with stress; “Of course, it will be useful to follow the rules of healthy living, eat healthy, and set up our sleep patterns correctly. Making unhealthy choices in our lives that will lead us to negativity will only lead us to a dead end. In such cases, it is up to the person to choose natural methods. In addition to these, if the size of the stress caused by the earthquake makes our lives difficult, we should apply to mental health specialists or centers with mental health specialists in addition to natural supports.” he continued.
Source: (BYZHA) – Beyaz News Agency
