From the Inside Out

While not everyone has the job of the CEO in their sights, I think most people want to progress in their career and continue their climb up the corporate ladder. In my line of work, I see very few people who are content to stay in the same place for the rest of their lives. No one likes stagnation.

However, new research indicates that you may want to think twice before accepting your next promotion because it could be bad for your health. When people get promoted, they suffer on average about 10 percent more mental strain and are less likely to find the time to go to the doctor. According to the study:

“Getting a promotion at work is not as great as many people think. Our research finds that the mental health of managers typically deteriorates after a job promotion, and in a way that goes beyond merely a short-term change,” said Chris Boyce of the University of Warwick. “There are no indications of any health improvements for promoted people other than reduced attendance at GP surgeries [i.e. doctors visits], which may itself be something to worry about rather than celebrate.”

People who were promoted reported a 20 percent fall in their visits to a doctor. Researchers attribute this to the stress of a new job and lack of time. I can relate to this. I need to visit the doctor for a minor problem that I’ve been experiencing over the last couple of weeks, but I keep putting it off because my calendar is just so full. I barely have time to schedule an appointment right now, yet I know I need to make it a priority.

Stress can be devastating. I’ve read many reports stating it can raise your risk for sicknesses and even provide fuel for cancer. According to LiveScience, here are some other revelations about stress:

• Stress makes us forget things.
• Happily married women suffer less stress.
• Job stress in particular has been shown to fuel disease.

Not all promotions are bad, but you may want to carefully consider all the factors before accepting a new position. Make sure you can handle the added pressure that comes with a new job. Have an action plan in place to help mitigate the effects of on-the-job stress — exercise, take breaks, etc. Oh yeah…and you might want to schedule a visit to the doctor before the promotion goes into effect.

I read a good article tonight on Time.com about the “biology of belief.” For many years, scientists have studied the effect of prayer on health, and the results have proven to be very interesting. In fact, more than 6,000 studies have been published on the topic since 2000, and a growing body of scientific evidence seems to suggest that faith may actually provide improved health.

According to the article, “People who attend religious services have a lower risk of dying in any one year than people who don’t attend. People who believe in a loving God fare better after a diagnosis of illness than people who believe in a punitive God. No less a killer than AIDS will back off at least a bit when it’s hit with a double-barreled blast of belief.”

“Even accounting for medications,” says Dr. Gail Ironson, a professor of psychiatry and psychology at the University of Miami who studies HIV and religious belief, “spirituality predicts for better disease control.”

Other studies conducted by Robert Hummer of the University of Texas also show conclusive evidence of the link between faith and health. Hummer has been studying the health of regular churchgoers by following the same group of participants since 1992. He found that “those who never attend religious services have twice the risk of dying over the next eight years as people who attend once a week.” Another study conducted by Daniel Hall of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center showed that regular church attendance can add 2-3 additional years to your life, similar to regular exercise which can extend your life by 3-5 years.

Skeptics try to explain this phenomenon by saying that churchgoers have more support, more friends, and can rely on other churchgoers to get rides to doctor appointments. Frankly, I think those explanations are weak, and I’m not alone. The article states that even hard core scientists admit that those things aren’t the whole story and that there’s a constellation of other variables that are far harder to measure.

Regardless of how or why it happens, the facts speak for themselves. If you want to live a longer, healthier life, get involved in a local church and spend some quality time with God.

God: He does a body good!

The Biggest Loser kicked off its 7th season tonight with eleven new couples all striving to win big by losing weight. This season includes:

–The heaviest woman (379 pounds) to appear on the show

–The youngest contestant ever (18) who weighs 388 pounds

–The oldest contestants ever at 63

–The heaviest contestant to appear on the show. At only 19, he already weighs 454 pounds.

Although I don’t need to lose weight, I love this show. It’s incredibly inspiring to watch people change their lives for the better. I am always fascinated by the transformations that occur by the end of the season. The contestants become more healthy, not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally. It’s so cool.

Watching the show always inspires me to keep striving to improve my overall health — to work out more, to eat better, and to take care of my body. The trainers, Jillian Michaels and Bob Harper, are amazing. It would be so neat to work out with them. For now, I have the “poor man’s version” of a Biggest Loser personal trainer. I received Jillian’s 30 Day Shred video for Christmas. It offers three challenging levels of 20-minute cardio and strength workouts. I’m doing level one now, and I’m really enjoying it. On the big screen, it’s almost like having Jillian standing there in person pushing me while I’m exercising…haha!

The first episode of The Biggest Loser offered a major twist at weigh in and a great quote from Jillian. I loved what she told the girl from the green team who was panting on the treadmill and whining. Jillian scowls at her and says, “Let me tell you something…when your lips turn blue, then you’re going to pass out…okay? But you’re not going to die.” Classic Jillian.

I’m excited to watch another group of people make the ultimate transformation. There are many interesting characters and personalities, so it should be an interesting journey. I can’t wait to see who wins by losing.

I love vacations and holidays. They offer the perfect opportunity for my sleep-deprived body to catch up on the z’s. Now I have another reason to sleep in during my holiday break…it’s good for my heart.

Yes, that’s right. Even one extra hour of sleep appears to lower the risk of developing calcium deposits in the coronary arteries. These deposits are linked to heart disease, and according to Diane Lauderdale whose study was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, “It’s a very early marker of future risk.”

Lauderdale’s study included 495 people aged 35 to 47. They wore sophisticated wrist bands that ultimately allowed the researchers to detect individual sleep patterns. Before and after the study, CT scans were used to assess the build-up of calcium inside the arteries. After the five year period, they discovered that:

• 27 percent of those sleeping less than five hours a night developed artery calcification
• 11 percent of those sleeping five to seven hours developed artery calcification
• Only 6 percent of those sleeping more than seven hours a night developed artery calcification

The benefits of sleep even extend beyond the build-up of calcium deposits. Not getting enough sleep has been linked to weight gain, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Sleep isn’t a miracle cure, but it does appear to lower your risk of developing these health conditions.

Researchers aren’t certain why sleep lowers your risk of heart disease. It could be related to the fact that blood pressure tends to drop during sleep, so those who sleep longer could have lower blood pressure. It may also be related to reduced exposure to the stress hormone, cortisol, which is decreased during sleep.

Regardless of the reason, the benefits are clear. Don’t feel guilty…go ahead, sleep in.

Sleep: it does a body good.

Forget the advice about eating an apple a day. All you need is a blog a day. According to an article in Self magazine, blogging may help you reap the following benefits.

• Sounder slumber. Blogging about your feelings can bring on relaxation, which helps usher in sleep, says Michael Breus, PH.D., author of Beauty Sleep.
• Improved Immunity. Expressive writing may encourage growth of white blood cells, which fight off infection, research shows.
• A hardy heart. Writing about emotional topics may lower blood pressure and heart rate, keeping your ticker in better shape, so write from the heart!

There’s no need to go public–a private Web diary can offer the same benefits. So, if you aren’t feeling well, simply post a couple of blog entrees and call me in the morning.