“There is nothing as infectious as fear.”—Violet Asquith Bonham Carter, 1906
The other day, I read an article titled: “Fear for health decreases health.”1 It is an interesting take of the fear that has spread in response to COVID-19 written by Stephanie C. Hamel, a joint Ph.D. in Human Exposure Assessment and Environmental Science. Fear and its effects on our society have been on my mind lately.
“In recent years, researchers have been examining stress and its role in human health. To paraphrase Gilbert Gee and Devon Payne-Sturges in Environmental Health Perspectives (2004), stress is the state of activation of physical and psychological readiness, in order to help an organism survive its external threats. Stress is an excellent tool for short-term survival, with the ‘flight or fight’ response mobilizing energy reserves and heightening vigilance. However, a sustained or chronic stress response leads to wear-and-tear on the organs, impeding the body’s ability to defend itself from further external challenges.”—Dr. Stephanie C. Hamel1
Like Dr. Hamel, I prefer to read the scientific journals—especially when they are reported (often with limited context or out of context). Many, unfortunately, relay on the popular media or, worse, social media for information. Having read well over 220 peer-reviewed articles relating to COVID-19, like Dr. Hamel, I have not been overly concerned for the virus. (Mind you, this does not mean I ignore its significance and its dangers.)
Fear divides us and puts a strain on our health. It overloads the ‘fight-or-flight’ response having a destructive toll on our bodies—Spiritually, Physically, Intellectually, Emotionally, and Socially.
I have mentioned numerous times the important role of exercise in maintaining a healthy immune system. I have commented on “Nieman’s ‘J’”—the concept that moderate exercise reduces the risk of upper respiratory tract infection while extreme physical stress elevates the risk. I saw recently a research-based suggestion that hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), as well as hypoglycemia increase the severity of COVID-19—again, noting a “J-shaped” relationship.2 The Hamel article led me to also consider the Yerkes-Dodson Law (i.e., the inverted-U of arousal or stress. In addition, Lupien and others4 demonstrated a similar response with stress hormones (i.e., gulcocorticoids). There is clear evidence to suggest that moderate stress is beneficial to one’s health and performance—i.e., it produces an adaptive response.
I prefer appropriate caution over fear. Clearly, with regard to COVID-19, there is a need to be cautious—especially when interacting with the elderly and those most vulnerable or with those who might be infected.
Fear, albeit real, is often irrational. Caution is rational. Precaution is wisdom.
We need to ignore the fear-mongering, get educated on the facts, and take reasonable precaution. This relates to all aspects of our lives. For example, driving. In 2019, an estimated 38,800 people were killed in car crashes.5 Few, however, have a paralyzing fear of driving. Instead, we are cautious (some more than others) drivers—we stop at stop signs, look before entering an intersection, etc. Moreover, we take precautions—we wear seatbelts, equip vehicles with a variety of safety features, etc. In other words, we replace fear with precautionary action.
Now is the time to consider our personal health and protect ourselves against future harm and/or disease. Diet and exercise are important. So are physical distancing and hand hygiene. Wear masks where appropriate. Clean frequently touched surfaces regularly. Moreover, be proactive rather than reactive. Strengthen the immune system as best as one is able. Above all, don’t live in fear. Don’t feed fear. Know the facts and act accordingly.
Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
1https://freethepeople.org/fear-for-health-decreases-health/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=balancedrebellion&fbclid=IwAR27EzxhCO-efFP-bakmTaNak2yWRXm85DcZVbu6Es7YU9mPJGeSe3Yo_X8
2https://www.levelshealth.com/blog/glucose-levels-covid-research?fbclid=IwAR0w-wY15lJsRqYWyDQ6jenppCDLwZpF93WkLhBKf3IeAz9QylWjLZa__js
3Yerkes R.M. & Dodson J. D. (1908). The relation of strength of stimulus to rapidity of habit-formation. Journal of Comparative Neurology and Psychology. 18(5):459–482. doi:10.1002/cne.920180503.
4Lupien S. J., Maheu F., Tu M., Fiocco A., & Schramek T. E. (2007). The effects of stress and stress hormones on human cognition: Implications for the field of brain and cognition. Brain and Cognition. 65(3):209–237. doi:10.1016/j.bandc.2007.02.007
5https://www.nsc.org/road-safety/safety-topics/fatality-estimates