Statistics show that 40% of deaths in the United States are related wholly or in part to stress.  Stress effects our lives in three different areas which include: physical, psychological and intellectual.  Donatelle notes that stress is often described as "disease of prolonged arousal" that leads to a cascade of negative health effects.  The longer you are chronically stressed, the more likely will be the negative health effects.  She continues to explain that nearly all body systems become potential targets, and the long term effects may be devastating.  The higher the levels of stress you experience, the greater the likelihood of damage to your physical health (P.Thoits, "Stress and Health": Major Findings and Policy Implications, "Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 2010).  Donatelle notes increase in rates of suicide, homicide, hate crimes, alcohol and drug abuse, and domestic violence across the United States are additional symptoms of a nation under stress. I also discuss "Happiness: The Magic Stress Elixir". Some positive psychologists have found that people who are generally more optimistic or happier have fewer mental and physical health problems, and less stress! If happiness and optimism are keys to stress reduction, how can you find them? Listen to podcast below find some of the answers. We are now on Pandora.

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On today's episode, Dr. Fritz Huber and I discuss the topic of "Stress" and what we can do to mange stress in a more healthier way.  The question is , who doesn't have stress?  We all have some form of stress, rather it be eustress (good stress) or distress (bad stress).  With the holidays coming around the corner and college students preparing to take their final exams, I thought this would be the ideal time on discussing this topic of stress.  The American Psychological Association.  Press Release: APA Survey Raises Concern About the Health Impact of Stress on Children and Families, November 9, 2010.  According to the results of a American Psychological Association poll, "year after year, nearly three-quarters of Americans say they experience stress at levels that exceed what they define as healthy, putting themselves at risk for developing chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and depression...people are also saying that they have difficulty implementing the changes they know will decrease their stress and improve their lives."  Nearly half of American adults (44%) believe that their stress has increased over the past five years, affecting their personal and professional lives.(IBID)  The exact toll stress exerts on us during a lifetime is unknown, but we know stress is a significant health hazard. It creates numerous negative effects on the body and mind.  In addition, stress impacts your relationships with friends, family, and co-workers and can have a significant impact on the well being of children.(IBID).  Is too much stress an inevitable negative part of life?  Rebecca Donatelle says "No".  She explains we can learn to anticipate and recognize our personal stressors and develop skills to reduce or better manage those stressors we cannot avoid.  Furst, we must understand what stress is and how it can affect our health and our lives.

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Today's guests include Dr. Bonnie Buchman, RN, ND. PhD and Helen.  Helen tells her story of going through breast cancer along with Dr. Bonnie.  

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Today's episode is a continuation of our discussion on Breast Cancer Awareness with Dr. Stephan Hanna, MD, Reinnie Leavitt and Renee Stevenson.  Dr. Hanna is a family physician who been practicing in West Virginia for over 30 years.  Dr. Hanna has been a guest on "Soaring In Health &Wellness" in the past and will continue to be in the future.  Reinnie Leavitt, BART, (R) (T) is the Director of Cancer Services, Cancer Service Line Administrator at WVU Cancer Institute; Camden Clark Comprehensive Regional Cancer Center.  Renee Stevenson, BSN, Masters in Divinity, RN is an Oncology Nurse Navigator Breast Health at WVU Medicine, Camden Clark Medical Center.  Our discussion today includes: local statistics as well as state statistics; other most common cancers; different types of screening for breast cancer- genetics, imaging, etc; stratifying breast cancer through the TNM System; simple overview of treatment options (Breast Conserving Therapy-lumpectomy, radiation, chemotherapy, surgery); preventive lifestyle changes and areas in the world with extreme longevity.

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On today's episode, my special guests are Dr. Bonnie Buchman, RN, ND, PhD. and Toni Ligas, RN.  Dr. Bonnie is a nurse / naturopath offering a more natural approach healthcare with numerous options in complimentary medicine.  Dr. Bonnie's clinic is the Vibrant Wellness Center with two locations: Parkersburg, WV and Charleston, WV.  Toni Ligas is an RN who has been practicing for the past 11 years and is a Breast Health Educator at the Strecker Cancer Center at Marietta Memorial Hospital in Ohio.

The month of October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  Breast cancer is the most common cancer in American women, except for skin cancers.  The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%.  This means there is a 1 in 8 chance she will develop breast cancer.  This also means there is a 7 in 8 chance she will never have the disease.  In 2010, approximately 230,480 women and 2,140 men in the United States were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer for the first time.  The American Cancer Society's estimates for breast cancer in the United States for 2019 are:  * About 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women. * About 62,930 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is a non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer). * About 41,760 women will die from breast cancer.  In recent years, incidence rates have increased slightly by 0.3% per year.  Fewer than 2% of breast cancer cases occur in women under age 35, but incidence rates increase quickly with age.  About 50% of cases are diagnosed in women aged 45-65.  Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, only lung cancer kills more women each year.  The chance that a woman will die from breast cancer is about 1 in 38, about 2.6%.  Death rates from female breast cancer dropped 40% from 1989 to 2016.  Since 2007, breast cancer death rates have been steady in women younger than 50, but have continued to decrease in older women.  These decreases are believed to be the result of finding breast cancer earlier through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatments.  At this time there are more than 3.5 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. This includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.(source: American Cancer Society. Cancer.org)

Dr. Bonnie, Toni and I discuss what breast cancer is, risk factors (risk factors you cannot change, risk factors related to lifestyle, disproven or controversial risk factors), factors that we can do to lower our risk of breast cancer. signs and symptoms and more.

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Today's episode is a continuation of suicide awareness for the month of September.  The question that I have, as well I believe many of us ask, "Is Suicide an Unforgiveable Sin?" Dr. Matthew Stanford does an excellent job in answering this question in his book, "Grace For the Afflicted."  He devotes a whole chapter in his book in regards to suicide.   Pastor Dan Stevens and I discuss this on today's program.  Dr. Stanford opens this chapter noting that suicide is a word that provokes fear, shame, and sadness.  He continues to note that some have called suicide "a selfish act" and "a permanent answer to a temporary problem."  He continues to explain that both of these statements wrongly imply that suicide is a reasoned and rational decision to take one's life.  Since its beginning, the church has struggled with understanding the spiritual consequences of suicide , at times even refusing burial and religious rites to the victims because they were thought to have committed an unforgiven (mortal) sin, damning them to hell.  Dr. Stanford notes that suicide is neither reasoned nor rational, and mental illness is the most common cause. So, is suicide an unforgiveable sin and does it affect an individual's eternal destination?

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Dr. Stephen Givens, Michael Moore and I discuss walking through that valley in our lives where it may appear there is no hope.  Dr. Stanford describes "suicide" as a word that provokes fear, shame, and sadness.  Some have called suicide "a selfish act" and "a permanent answer to a temporary problem."  He continues to explain that both of these statements wrongly imply that suicide is reasoned and rational decision to take one's life.  He continues to explain that suicide is neither reasoned nor rational, and mental illness is the most common cause.  Rebecca Donatelle explains that we as humans possess a resiliency that enables us to cope, adapt, and thrive, regardless of life's challenges.  We discuss some of the factors that could influence our psychological health such as family or other areas that could cause someone to want to hurt themselves or take their own life such as Neurobiology, Neuroanatomy and Neurochemistry.  Additionally, our discussion includes the prevalence, risk factors, warning signs, preventive strategies and knowing when one might need to seek treatment for psychological problems.  When your life or a family member, a loved one, a friend or co-worker is going through a crisis rather it be health, financial, spiritual or emotional where there seems to be no hope and "you have lost your voice" to get you through this valley.  You need to find a friend, family member, church, pastor, mental health care provider who can be that voice for you to help you walk through that valley praying and encouraging you.  YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

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As per our last episode with David, depression was a major psychological effect on the bully, victim and the observer.  The month of October being observed nationally as the month for "suicide awareness." Peter D. Kramer, MD says, "Suicide is what the death certificate says when one dies of depression."  Dr. Stanford explains that suicide is neither reasoned nor rational, and that mental illness is the most common cause.  I though it would be appropriate to discuss what depression is.  Rebecca Donatelle notes that major or clinical depression is not the same as having a bad day or feeling down after a negative experience.  It is also not something that can be wished away or ignored for the sake of "growing a thicker skin."  The National Institute of Mental Health notes that major depression is the most common mood disorder, affecting approximately 7% of the United States population. Major depression is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with work, study, sleep, appetite, relationships, and enjoyment of life.  Symptoms can can last for weeks, months, or years and vary in intensity.  I discuss the common signs of depression; depression regarding gender and age; prevalence and age of onset; risk factors; ways of dealing with and defeating depression.  

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On today's program we discuss the topic of "Bullying" with my guest, David Wells.  Not only is David my brother, but he is also the CEO of the Chocolate Jazz Foundation 501C3.  David is endorsed by Conn & Selmer as a national performer.  He was a nominee for the 51st Grammy.  He is a concert promoter in Nashville TN and is the producer and host of his individual podcast, "The Bully Resistant Show With David Wells." For the past 18 years, he has traveled across the United States as a full time Smooth Jazz musician and the last 7 of those 18 years, he has devoted his life in going into the public and private school system at every level in educating children on "bullying"and the repercussions that bullying has not only on the victim, but as well on the bully and the bystander / observer.

On today's program we discuss what bullying is, the different types of bullying, the short and long term effects of bullying on the victim, the bully, the observer and those that were bullied and now are the bully themselves.  Additionally, we discuss the long term risk of those who are involved in bullying and the relationship between bullying and suicide.

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On today's program, my guest Stephen Givens and I finish up our series on changing our bad behaviors. We discuss behavior change strategies provided by Rebecca Donatelle which include:  visualization, countering, controlling the situation, changing your self-talk, rewarding yourself and journaling.  Stephen and I discuss how mental practice can transform unhealthy behaviors into healthy ones.  Athletes use a technique known as "imagined rehearsal".  Careful mental and verbal rehearsal of how you intend to act will help you anticipate problems and greatly improve the likelihood of success.  Mental rehearsal is also known as mindfullness meditation, prepping your mind or putting your thoughts into action.  As the saying goes, "Practice makes perfect." Practice can cause improvement, but "perfect practice" can lead to better results than practice full of failures.  Because mental practice is perfect practice, it is also a confidence booster.  Experiencing success increases confidence.  Additionally, we discuss "countering".  Stephen gives a nice illustration or example of the "fire escape plan."  Controling the situation, "P To The Seventh Power"-Prior Proper Planning Prevents Pitiful Poor Performance.  These are just a few of the items that were discussed on today's program. I would strongly recommend listening to today's show.  There is a lot of great information.  Keep advancing toward's optimal health and wellness.

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