In healthcare, one of the most important aspects of assisting patients is observation. We observe behaviour, physical signs and symptoms, in order to obtain a diagnosis. One thing that I noticed in patients was the power of the mind.

Our bodies respond to positive thoughts. This is a phenomenon that to date has not been proven on a molecular level. However, we do know that it is a factor. We know that stress is a precursor to many of the more prevalent diseases in human society today. Stress is interrelated with heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke, to name a few.

There are many reasons as to why stress plays such a role in manifesting these morbidities. One is lifestyle. Our lifestyle can represent the stress that we allow to enter our lives. In doing so, we submit to unhealthy practices, which over time result in the manifestation of illness. Another is the bodily reaction to stress itself.

Our state of mind can send neurological signals to the rest of the body which can stimulate excess hormonal releases, and create imbalance. Take for example the stomach, an organ which houses a potent substance known as hydrochloric acid (HCl). This acid is produced specifically for the breakdown of ingested food. Its production is dictated by neurocellular signalling and hormone release that originates all the way from the brain through what is known as the 10^th cranial nerve.

Ever feel sick to the stomach when you are upset? That acid in your stomach that doesn’t seem to go away? Many patients I’ve seen, come in with stomach ulcers due to the overproduction of HCl. Its production can be attributed to stress.  Our minds are so powerful that it can send signals through neural pathways to create this imbalance.

Our heart responds to stress by beating so fast it may skip a beat or a few. Stress can cause the brain to send signals to our blood vessels and squeeze itself into creating higher blood pressures. It can overstimulate the pancreas into producing abnormal levels of insulin. It can even change our emotional states by controlling hormones in our brain that is responsible for happier states of mind, hormones such as dopamine and serotonin.

In the hospital, you will always see two types of patients. One with the willpower and mental strength to dig deep in their hearts and fight, or those that have lost the drive to survive. I would observe a trend where those with a positive mindset would overcome illness and show a correlated improvement in their physical state. This to me was no coincidence. We are responsible for our health and have the power to change it within ourselves.

Today, we see a world in which many seek out treatment of diseases with seemingly unknown causes. Yet the source of our illness comes from within ourselves. A peaceful state of mind is the ultimate cure and the secret to our fountain of youth.