Upon reviewing the results of my annual physical exam, I noted my blood pressure was elevated at 140/90 when it was first taken in the doctor’s office. I was scheduled for a flexible sigmoidoscopy. I don’t know if you have ever had this procedure done, but flexible or not, it’s not something one wants to happen. Therefore, my body was in a “fight or flight” mode. (I wanted to get the hell out of there).

Why am I bringing this up? Because stress that we put on our bodies due to an “assessment of a situation” such as waiting in a doctor’s office, can be just as stressful, if not more stressful, than physical exertion or an actual physical threat to the body itself. (As a note: my maximum blood pressure while pushing myself to the limit on the treadmill was only 144/90).


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