At the turn of
the 19th century, a book was written by a physician trained at that time with
the best medical knowledge it could offer. A key part of the book was a
concept; it was a concept that happiness and the ability to give to others and
live in harmony could lead to a long and healthy life. At the time, they
did not know about hormones like Cortisol, the stress hormone, but as we look
at the complex relationship between our brain and our body, it's becoming abundantly
clear that the words written over a hundred years ago are true. We
definitely do not thrive under negative energy and stress and excessive Cortisol
levels can raise blood pressure and add increasing levels of anxiety.
Long-term wear and tear can clearly take its toll and we can measure a direct
relationship between hormone release and cardiac changes. The doctors of
that day used physical exams and observations to make their conclusions, and it
worked in many cases.
