I used to have a problem so I took a pill. Now I have a problem if I don't take a pill.......
I do feel sad that my life is now shorter but who wouldn't.....I really like the idea of Yoga and although someone suggested a Yoga DVD I think I would like to join a group and get the benefit of a group as well as the exercise.
cheers Leanne

Thanks, NYNM! I will need to check into those web sites. I totally agree, this stress relieving is a personal thing . Some work with some and others don't. I know so many say exercise makes them feel so much less stressed. Maybe I'm not doing it enough...

Need to experiment and try new avenues,.

Thanks, all, for the advice!!

august, do you feel like you are dependent on the meds now?

Natures own stress relief ,so I've heard, is marijuana. Along with reducing stress without narcotics, relieving ,so some say, pain, making the assholes that cross your path tolerable and making music so much more enjoyable which in it self is one of the greatest stress relievers of all times. Now I'm no doctor so take this with a grain of salt but a natural herb seems to be so much better than any narcotic addicting pharmaceutical that is almost guaranteed to screw a person up with extended use and make the drug manufactures so rich that they can afford to lobby congress with so much money that congress sleeps with them and goes along with anything they want. Any one remember Prohibition and what it caused in this country?
NSR to all Rick

BTW, I'm not necessarily in favor of meds, its just an option. But be sure to see a well-informed MD who really knows about stress meds. And use other meds as well. Pills are not enough. You might not get addicted but you might get dependent (they are different).

Another option that soothes many people is a pet. I have heard of a nurse who has a small dog (a sort of "therapy dog). She lets pts. who would like it to pet and hold the dog. She retakes vitals and finds that heart rate and bp are lowered right then and there.If you like animals and can find the right one (usually very calm temperament dog, cat, etc. I even know some people who have a pet rabbit) that can be stress relief.

Amend: when I said "use other meds as well" I meant "use other forms of relaxation besides meds."

Um... marijuana might not be a great idea:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/570583_6


During the past few years an increasing number of case reports indicate an association between marijuana smoking and the development of AF. In this brief review, we concisely analysed all the relative reported cases. Despite the small number of these reports, the observed close temporal relationship between marijuana smoking and AF occurrence, especially in young people without structural heart disease or other precipitating factors for AF, strongly supports an association between the two conditions. The clinical relevance of such an association appears to be important, given that even short self-terminating episodes of AF imply an increased thromboembolic risk particularly when other risk factors for thromboembolism are also present.[15,16] As already mentioned, an increasing body of evidence relates marijuana smoking to stroke events. Although vasospastic responses of cerebral vessels and vasculitis are the most plausible mechanisms, the implication of a cardioembolic cause such as AF cannot be excluded.[13] Moreover, AF could contribute to the haemodynamic abnormalities observed in marijuana smokers. In fact, the well-described orthostatic/postural hypotension that often takes place may be markedly aggravated by an excessive tachycardia leading to syncope, and falls. Remarkably, half of the patients that we described experienced such an event, fortunately without any subsequent serious injury.

With respect to the underlying mechanisms of marijuana-induced AF, it could be speculated that most of the above-mentioned mechanisms are also operative in this setting. The pathogenic role of the autonomic nervous system in AF is well documented.[29] Adrenergic stimulation reduces action potential duration and alters the electrophysiological properties of myocardium favouring automaticity, triggered activity and micro-reentry.[20,29] Although adrenergic-induced AF usually occurs in the presence of heart disease,[29] a subset of healthy individuals sensitive to the catecholamine surge may be prone to AF development.[17] Moreover, disturbances in atrial coronary or microvascular flow (atrial ischaemia) caused by marijuana might contribute to AF pathogenesis.[30]


petey

Petey, I have not read that study but it wouldn't surprise me if it triggers Afib in some people. I am not advocating smoking marijuana or use either. I imagine smoking anything could trigger Afib, I smoked and quit years ago and don't wish that habit on anyone. It was hard to quit but I was one of the lucky ones who beat that demon.

I understand Sunssol. I was responding to Rick100. :-) petey

Thanks Petey, I mentioned marijuana on page one of the posts and just assumed it was a response to my post. However, I smoked marijuana and tobacco a few years later. Anybody like brownies? ;) just kidding!

Wow, thanks again for your researching results, Petey!! Certainly don't want to go down that route!!

Can you imagine? Half of the first row at Grateful Dead concerts were probably in afib.

:-) petey

I came way late to this stress conversation...I see exercise was suggested already.....what about a massage? Now THAT always helps me relax! Of course, it isn't long term, unless you have enough money to get one every few days. So, first, win the lottery. Then, hire a masseuse. Then, send some money to the guy who gave you the GREAT idea of winning the lottery!;-)

Bill

Very interesting post Petey but to my knowledge there has not been any deaths due to marijuana smoking or eating brownies etc none zero. That can not be said about any of the additive narcotic drugs that people use in the billions every year. Many over dose patients enter the er every day. Marijuana is not additive physically but can be mentally. The post has a lot of it could, there might be a link, but we are not really sure and so on but nothing that directly relates marijuana smoking to A fib and if I read it right the sampling was very small. I do admit that the post was very hard for me to understand so please correct me if I'm in error and why can't the medical field write in a way that most people can understand the point they are trying to make. . It seems to me that the author of that article was into mumbo jumbo trying to make his point. Why not just say he tested 10,000 pot smokers and found that 5,000 had a fib directly caused by smoking pot or better yet test 10,000 drinkers and see how many of them have a fib directly related to drinking. Smoking pot or cigarettes and breathing the polluted air most of have to breath will definably cause health issues but the only way to prevent this is to live in a bubble. Keep up the excellent research Petey. NSR to all Rick

Rick:
It seems alot of things can trigger afib. I never heard of anyone dying of pot either. I did another search and found out the following:

Pot causes tachycardia
Alters the ECG
Causes temporary hypertension
Cause hypotension on standing
Makes people prone to strokes one hour after smoking
Causes PVCs
Is recommended to be included on the list of afib causes

For that reason I wouldn't go down that route.

I imagine that people with afib that smoke marijuana become asymptomatic or don't care. :-)

petey

Funny posts, Petey!

NYNM,

YOu idea of a pet is a good one. However, I'm highly allergic to any dander. Otherwise, I think getting a cat would be calming...