The Saturday Food Chain October 13th 2012- Addicted to Adrenaline

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Addicted to Adrenaline

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Food Chain Radio Show #793 • October 13, 2012 • Sat 9AM Pacific
Michael Olson Featuring Peter M. McCarthy, author Adrenaline Nation
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ADDICTED TO ADRENALINE
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We are always, it seems, in a fight or in flight.
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When we experience stress, and we always seem to be experiencing stress, our brain responds by dumping adrenaline into our bodies, thus giving us the energy to fight or take flight:
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In an adrenaline rush, blood flow is restricted to those areas of the brain that govern thinking, and redirected to the more primitive areas of the brain that govern reflexes. Sight becomes more acute, allowing us to better see even in the dark. Hair stands on end, making us more sensitive to the surrounding environment. Heart rate increases by up to 500%, and arteries constrict to increase the pressure and speed at which blood is delivered to our muscles. This is great fun, right?
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Our never-ending quest for the next adrenaline-rush, however, has consequences. Simply stated, as it is in Adrenaline Nation, chronic stress increases the rate at which we age, and decreases the age at which we die. This sad fact leads us to as…
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Can we manage our addiction to adrenaline?