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Reversing the allostatic load.
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| Subject: | Corticosteroids |
| Author: | Christodoulou, Irene |
| Pub Date: | 07/01/2010 |
| Publication: | Name: International Journal of Health Science Publisher: Renaissance Medical Publishing Audience: Academic Format: Magazine/Journal Subject: Health Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2010 Renaissance Medical Publishing ISSN: 1791-4299 |
| Issue: | Date: July-Sept, 2010 Source Volume: 3 Source Issue: 3 |
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| Accession Number: | 263251120 |
| Full Text: |
Chronic stress triggers a series of allostatic mechanisms and
possibly leads to disease in humans and mammals. The molecular basis of
the reaction to chronic stress is the adrenal cortex hormones, as human
hydrocortisone. Epinephrine and norepinephrine are protagonists for
survival in acute stress. In psychosocial stress, condition with
variability, the expected damage is hippocambal remodeling, with
subsequent negative effects in learning and memory. The hippocambal
alterations seem to be caused by chronic exposure to hypercortisolism,
caused by chronic or repeated stress. The reduction of hippocambal
volume is a common result of chronic stress conditions and is also
present in depressive disorders. The socioeconomic status is an
unchanged risk factor and bad prognostic factor for almost every kind of
disease arising in conditions of chronic stress. Chronic diseases,
psychosomatic diseases and cancer are more often and more difficult to
treat in poor people and the same phenomenon appears for mental health
disorders. Depression, suicidal or risk -taking behavior and criminality
have acquired an epidemic character and in practice indicate a
society's picture of sickness. What is more disappointing; the
trans-parental transfer of sick genes makes the hope for rehabilitation
less probable for the expanding reality of sick populations. Allostatic load refers to both the body and the psychic sphere. It includes every negative load we withstand before birth (endometrial environment) until today. The theory of transgenerational transmission of stress makes this load even "heavier". Brain gut syndromes are allostatic syndromes Brain-gut syndromes or functional gastrointestinal syndromes represent a group of disorders with a common pathogenetic basis which is the dysfunction of brain-gut axis. This dysfunction is one characteristic symptom of allostasis. The main brain-gut syndrome is the irritable bowel syndrome and other included disorders are the inflammatory bowel diseases, peptic ulcer, functional dyspepsia, gastro-esophageal reflux, chronic abdominal pain in childhood, and chronic chest pain in adults, related to visceral pain. Brain and gut communicate via the autonomous neural system and gastrointestinal hormones, secreted by the neuroendocrine cells of the diffuse neuro-endocrine system of the gastrointestinal tract. The detection of the neuropeptides of CRF family (Corticotropin Releasing Factor) and selective receptors in the gastrointestinal tract has made clearer the role of HPA (HypothalamusPituitary-Adrenals) axis in brain-gut syndromes. The molecular cross-talk of HPA axis and brain-gut axis and the new discoveries made possible the neuroendocrine mapping of the gastrointestinal tract and enhanced the perspectives for novel molecular therapeutic interventions targeting the brain-gut axis. Thus, we see that the new pharmaceutical approaches seem to be following an "anti-allostatic" direction because they are based on the faults of the physiology that were created by allostasis. Hypothalamus--Pituitaty--Adrenal (HPA) is the main (anti?)--allostatic sensory organ Hypothalamus- Pituitaty- Adrenal (HPA) axis is stimulated in bacterial and viral infections resulting in hypercortisolism. Recent evidence indicates that adrenocortical insufficiency may be more common in septic shock, and low-dose hydrocortisone regimens have shown promising results in patients with sepsis. The hyperactivity of HPA axis is corrected during a clinically effective therapy with antidepressant drugs, increasing the number and sensitivity of glucocorticoids receptors (GRs). Novel agents as CRF (Corticotrophin Releasing Factor) antagonists can reduce the high levels ofCRF in blood in anxiety disorders, depression, anorexia nervosa and posttraumatic or post-ischemic neuropsychiatric disorders. Agents that interact with CRF- Binding Protein raise the levels of urocortin (neuropeptide, CRF family member) and other free peptides in brain tissue, with neuro-protective effects. Endocrine withdrawal syndromes and drugs-withdrawal syndromes cause changes in the HPA axis that depend on the degree of tolerance and dependence. HPA axis is hyperactive in cocaine-addicted persons, and CRF increase is responsible for neuropsychiatric disorders and the relapse to cocaine use after therapy. CRF antagonists target to the hyperactivity of HPA axis and represent the suggested strategy for cocaine-addicted persons. The change in the HPA axis after long term chemical exposure to relatively high levels of specific environmental agents triggers multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS), a controversial disorder with a pathophysiologic involvement of the brain and the immune system. The anti-allostatic pattern of life Until today, we believed that the allostatic load increases only through life and never decreases; just like radiation. The cause for this pessimism was that allostasis was presented like a dynamic negative metamorphosis due to constant adaptations for tolerating environmental and endogenous stressful stimuli. The damage seemed to be permanent. However, recent studies seem to count the allostatic load with biochemical and anosological methods (cynourenin, T-lymphocytes) and show that the allostatic load not only can be counted but also be reduced! If every day of our lives we "kill" with slow and systematic way all the negative loads which come from the environment or from inside (psychiatric disease or mood disorders), we may manage not only to protect ourselves from negative "transformation" but also may manage to rejuvenate ourselves by reversing our existing allostatic load. The every-day-detoxication policy is slow, persistent and constant, and simulates to the appearance of the toxic attacks we undergo during our life. It is a dynamic confrontation of whatever negative may build an allostatic load for us. This detoxication fight should react to every negative action and should last for a lifetime. What should we do? Good sleep, nutritional sufficiency, immune support--whatever may include this- systematic physical exercise, avoidance of psychological distress and of pressure (eg. some "bad" habits should have their place in our lives and should not be eliminated, like moderate alcohol drinking and in the opposite side some good habits should have limits, for example overwork is not as rejuvenating as being creative, and overtraining is harmful in contrast to regular physical training). Especially for elderly, where the allostatic load is heavier due to long time of exposure to negative contributing factors , there is the challenge of counting the allostatic load and then reversing it with slow and systematic recovery treatment and prevention policies as well. Of course, human contributors are crucial for such a reverse, and beloved persons are of major importance for elderly mainly and for every individual in general. Better health and psychosomatic rejuvenation are the key-goals for succeeding in a positive allostatic re-metamorphosis. However, this anti-allostatic game is vastly based on a moderate--at least--socioeconomic status (See Figure 1). [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] Metabolic syndrome, neuroses, and mood disorders, risk-taking behavior, eating disorders, and polipharmacotherapy can be treated or helped by the normalization of the body composition (fat to muscle ratio with normal body water). Also, physical exercise may change dramatically the life of everyone who not only does not avoid social activities (sitting on a coach watching TV) but acquires a broad contract with a social circle of energetic and vital people who are keen on participating to the recreational part of life. At the same time, a person who keeps in touch with physical exercise (at least 3 times per week) develops a good relationship with his/her body and has a better sexual life (wellness, self confidence, increase of erotic desire, increase of cardiorespiratory resistance). In conclusion, psychosomatic rejuvenation offered by systematic physical exercise makes up the best addiction that one can acquire. Especially people prone to addictions (smoking, overeating, alcohol drinking, TV watching, computer overuse), should be pushed to switch their addiction at least partially to systematic physical exercise; because the treatment of one addiction may be to replace it with a new addiction which is not harmful and which is rewarding! Irene Christodoulou Editor-in-Chief |
| Gale Copyright: | Copyright 2010 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. |