Mind

By Kevin D. Ham, M.D.
Vancouver, BC, Canada

The mind is responsible for the ability to be aware of the environment, to think and to react. The brain plays a central role in the function of the mind. There is a close connection between the blood and the brain through various routes such as the hypothalamus, a small part of the brain.

Health is defined not merely as the absence of disease or physical illness, but also the social, mental and emotional well-being of a person.

The mind has a direct impact on not only our mental health, but also our physical health. During periods of stress, the body produces adrenaline and cortisol, which is released into the blood by the brain to prepare the body for danger, to be able to run, see better, think more clearly or to stay and fight.

However under prolonged stress, such as a heavy workload or financial worries, this fight response can result in no relaxation of the body’s response to stress. This can manifest in symptoms such as headaches, pain, fatigue, high blood pressure and also mental illnesses such as anxiety, panic attacks and depression.

Laughter is a physiological response to happiness and humor. It results in contraction of fifteen facial muscles as well as stimulation of the zygomatic muscle, which causes the upper lip to lift. The average person laughs seventeen times per day. Laughter inhibits the ‘fight or flight’ response, reducing the levels of certain stress hormones in the blood. Stress hormones suppress the immune system and raise the blood pressure. Laughter boosts the immune system by increasing the number of white blood cells. Laughter also reduces blood pressure while increasing the production of immunoglobulin A in saliva. Laughing one hundred times is estimated to be the equivalent of fifteen minutes of workout on an exercise bike.

Sleep allows our energy to be replenished and give our bodies and minds rest. It is the period of time when our bodies are building itself back up, when growth hormone is released into the blood. When it is dark, your brain releases melatonin into the blood, regulating your circadian rhythm. Without proper rest, people can become anxious, paranoid and depressed.

What you see with your eyes and hear with your ears directly affect your mind so it is also important that you screen such sights and sounds, as they can also directly affect your health.