Question:
The first thing that came to my mind reading this was "sounds like you have CHF!!" but I sure missed it when I saw you last. The bells
and alarms didn't go off for me when you were at the gathering.
In hindsight now, you seemed quieter and less active then usual but
like you I didn't find it too odd since many folks go through a type of acclimation to the altitude change with decreased activity.
At this point in the story I had to wonder if by laying off the weed
had made it worse or better. Smoking had always lowered my pressure
in the past but then you have to wonder about the effects of holding
ones breath after inhaling(raising the pressure).
Your hospital story is so well written it takes the inexperienced
through the portals of your mind and experiences rather well(imo).
I'm no stranger to your experience only from the other side of the
desk and it's a very clear description of a system that works to
help not hurt people.
Answer:
Inhaling only raises blood pressure at first, in any given session. With
succeeding inhalations (at least in yoga breathing) the blood pressure & pulse
drop.
Bill? Would you please post the thing I wrote for you about yoga breathing? I
don't have a copy. It might help somebody.
Sit centered (although it can be done lying down, etc) Close your eyes.
Breathe in slowly, deeply, completely. After you think you are full of
air, take one last pull and hold for a count of ten. Then slowly let all the
air out. When you think you've got it all out, give a last push from the
abdomen.
(This last push pushes out the bulk of the poisons.) Remain empty for a
count of ten. Do only three of these sets the first time. Five or eight
hours later do a set of three. Then twice at like intervals the second day, then
twice at like intervals the third days. Then try five sets, twice day. And so
work up to ten sets at a time. When breathing in, breathe through the nose.
When exhaling, exhale through the mouth. You'll watch your heart beat drop
after an initial spike on the first set or so. This is also how I deal with it
when my pulse goes wild when I smoke too much pot.
Yes Panzo^n it is excellent for stress
reduction, especially when combined with mental imaging like breath
in the healing life giving oxygen(peaceful vibes) and breath out the
toxins and stresses that impact our lives.
The yoga I was thinking of is Prana(I think?) and has been shown to
provide many physiological benefits as does Hatha(physical stretch)
yoga.
By breathing in through the nose we filter the air of impurities and
moisten it for the lungs. By breathing out through the mouth we rid
the body as impurities are carried out and do not deposit them back
into the nose to be reinhaled later.
My knowledge of yoga is limited and I welcome those who can offer more
on the subject than I have.
One relaxation technique I've found useful over the yrs especially for
sleep is to lay down, get comfortable, close your eyes and imagine a
big ball of healing relaxing energy(like a sun) at your feet. Mentally
begin to move that ball up your body beginning with the feet. Let the
ball rest on your feet until you start to feel them relax to the point
where they feel weightless. Continue this practice of slowly pulling
the ball up your body mentally, letting it rest in position until the
lower legs become weightless and seem to float. you can continue with
this all the way up to and including the head. i have never gotten
beyond my thighs because i frequently fall asleep before the knees.
The important part is in imaging this ball as something that feels good
to you like a warm loving massage and hold it on a point until it is
floating.
Another stress relieving technique is self hypnosis, which can also be
used to effect some physiological changes. don't let the word hypnosis
scare you. it's just a natural means of telling your psyche and body
what you want it to do. begin by getting as comfortable as possible
after making a list of your goals. in this case it would be lowering
the pressure. close your eyes and fix your mind on an object or picture
that is not to elaborate(small pond or gentle ocean waves) then think
about how you want to be. then slowly begin to think about your body
and it relaxing/melting right into the chair/couch, etc. following
similar steps as above you will help your body find a stress free state
of relaxation, which will help all the way around in the end. if you
find your thoughts drifting back to the stresses in your life, just
slowly pull them back where you want them. it's ok if you drift don't
be upset just pull your mind back to what you want it to do, like lower
blood pressure.
maybe someone else can give their favorite tips for stress reduction
and relaxation techniques. there are many useful ones to be learned.
